Ch. 20 Respnses

Ch. 20 Prompts 1. Some of the conflicts that arose during the 1890s depression ranged from increased rural hostility towards the cities, fluctuating opinions on government, unemployment and reform. The debate over currency was very heated as well. Farmers were aggravated with the fact that they didn’t get their fair share of economic and social benefits. The public demanded reform and a larger role for the president. The alignment of these political issues along with the government itself led the way for the Progressive Era. 2. Some actions that were taken to prevent women and African American people from voting were outrageous. The Supreme Court upheld cases that allowed states to deny women their voting rights. Congress also refused to pass a Constitutional amendment which would allow women to vote. Some Southern states adopted many methods which made voting a hassle and a challenge for the African American population. They had to pass literacy tests which were near impossible for a largely uneducated population. The states also established a poll tax which made voters pay an annual tax for the right to vote. In Mississippi, registration officials made the voters read and interpret the Constitution which was hard for illiterate people. 3. Party loyalties were still tied to what happened during the Civil War and they remained the same from before the war as well. Voters stayed with the same parties they were with before and shifts were infrequent. The Democrats stayed strong in the South with their policies concerning states’ rights, decentralization, and limited government. The Republicans weren’t very strong in the South because of their policy with cutting military rule. Republicans still pursued policies which would benefit the nation as a whole and they would use the government to propel and promote such policies. 4. Farmers and merchants were upset with the rate discrimination of the railroad companies. Eventually, states paid closer