U.S. History - The Crisis of the 1890s Study Notes

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THEME: The Crisis of the 1890s1.Why are the 1890s considered a turning-point in American political history?-after the 1896 election, many Americans voluntarily withdrew from the electoral process-others were removed by "disenfranchisement"-the United States was becoming more modern and huge cities were being formed as well as large corporations-significance of voting declined2.Explain the significance of Jacob Coxey's march on Washington.

-Jacob Coxey was a wealthy Populist-encouraged a group of unemployed people to march on Washington and demand free silver and a public road-building program that would hire half a million workers3.What is the significance of Pullman, Illinois and the labor strike?-in this town it was impossible for the residents to escape the overwhelming power of the company which owned the houses, shops and event the streets. There was not a single piece of property that was privately owned.

-when the Panic of 1893 hit, Pullman laid of 2,000 of his 5,00 employees and cut wages for others by 25%-desperate workers organized in the spring of 1894 and joined Eugene V.

Debs' American Railway Union. The ARU voted to make the strike national, ARU switchmen would refuse to switch Pullman cars onto trains-the strike shut down 20 railroads4.What is the significance of the 1896 presidential election?-first modern presidential election-the first time a successful candidate fully employed the advertising and fundraising techniques of twentieth-century political campaigns (presidential candidates did not campaign, surrogates do it for them, however Bryan traveled the US & gave many speeches)it was also a turning point in the history of national politics-William J. Bryan of Kansas - won the presidential nomination of Democratic Party-delivered one speech at the National Convention that capitulated someone toward the party nomination-believes that people that own railroads are benefiting from the land that the government gave...