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Difficulty: EasyGilded Age Politics and the Populist Movement

Read the following excerpt from a political speech:

"Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the democratic interests, and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."
— William Jennings Bryan, 1896

Which of the following groups would most likely support the sentiments expressed in this excerpt?

  1. Southern and Western farmers seeking the free coinage of silver to increase the money supplyAnswer
  2. B
    Urban middle-class reformers advocating for civil service reform and municipal utility regulation
  3. C
    Northeastern industrial capitalists advocating for the complete elimination of protective tariffs
  4. D
    Atlantic merchants seeking to re-establish a mercantilist trade system with Great Britain

Answer

Southern and Western farmers seeking the free coinage of silver to increase the money supply
The correct option is correct because the speech is William Jennings Bryan's famous 'Cross of Gold' address, which championed the cause of bimetallism (free silver) on behalf of Southern and Western farmers. These farmers faced severe deflation and high debt burdens, and they believed that expanding the money supply with silver would inflate crop prices and make debts easier to repay.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided excerpt to identify the central issue.
The speech criticizes the gold standard and references a "cross of gold" and "brow of labor," indicating a defense of working-class interests against tight monetary policies.
Understanding the core argument is necessary to identify which Gilded Age interest group aligned with it.
2
Connect the historical context of the speech to Gilded Age political factions.
The speech was delivered by William Jennings Bryan in 1896, representing the Democratic and Populist platforms advocating for free silver (bimetallism).
This links the source's arguments to a specific Gilded Age movement.
3
Determine which option represents the group that advocated for this platform.
Southern and Western farmers were heavily in debt and believed that expanding the money supply through silver coinage would raise crop prices and ease their debt burdens.
This matches the target group with the correct economic rationale.

Key Concept

The Populist Party and the currency debates of the Gilded Age
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Gilded Age Politics and the Populist Movement

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