The First Response Essay (as discussed and mentioned in the syllabus and course calendar) is worth 50 pts. and is due uploaded here by Sunday, March 28th by 11:59 P.M., so please plan accordingly. I moved the due date back almost a week, so I hope that gives some breathing room for those of you that may need it.
This paper can be based on ANY Prompt of your choice from weeks 2-8. Choose ONE, then write an essay based on the Prompt (like an expanded Post). It may be a Prompt you have already Posted to, but it must follow the instructions below. Be clear to indicate which Prompt you are using for the essay. The essay is basically an expanded Post to a previous Prompt, and to further reiterate, it can be one you have already done in weekly work. It may need expanded, updated, or edited to meet the below specifications, depending on how thorough you’ve been in Posting.
The First Response Essay must conform to these specifications for full credit consideration:
This assignment should be between 1,000-1,500 words, double spaced, one inch margins, in 12pt. Times New Roman font, properly cited in Chicago Style. (Links to an external site.) It must be saved as .Doc, .Docx, .RTF or .PDF only, and uploaded here by the due date. No other formats are accepted, so please be sure to save as one of the aforementioned files and please also follow the formatting instructions accurately (points will be deducted for not following instructions).
Here is the prompt:
Foner, chapter 17 on Populism and Empire.
1. Describe the nature of Populism in the late 19th century and its roots. What were its successes and failures and why (in your view, supported by evidence)? What was the Populist coalition and who was excluded, if anyone (and if so, why)? How did Populism deal with African American and womens issues? How did Populism affect the coming 20th century?
Here is my response to the prompt before:
Prompt One
19th century Populism
Populism was an ideology created to revive democracy by coming up with new policies and government actors. For instance, people wanted the political system changes by developing new income tax, direct election of senators, railroads to be owned by the government, and an increase of the silver coinage used as the currency. The movement was seen to help develop the small entrepreneurs of the time, like small farmers. They had positivity in gaining freedom and political rights. For instance, they would help entrepreneurs develop their business by undercutting banks and also lending them loans. During the 19th century, many industries were progressing except for the farmers languishing in poverty (Foner, 2019, p. 651). Sectors such as railroads and banks were on the high end, while the agriculture sector was not promising. Many cities and towns were on the rising move while agriculture was still lagging backward.
Populists were known to be very right when it came to representation in the political powers. Still, they were also seen to fail when discussing issues that were not positively impacting them. Populists were also seen to destroy the organization checks that were essential for a long-lasting democracy. In the 1892 to 1898 votes, populism was seen struggling. Their candidates garnered fewer votes the cotton prices fell. By 1900 populism party was seen to have died as its presidential candidate Wharton Barker was defeated by William McKinley.
Populism was also known as the People’s Party, found in the 1890s. It was started in Kansa before being joined by many popes across the USA. The party boosted coalition from other parties such as Knight of Labor, the Grange, and the Farmers’ Alliances. Originally its main ideas were formed to have influence in the state rather than the national level. The party show the Republicans and Democratic parties to be annoying farmers while supporting other institutions (Foner, 2019, p. 688). They came up with ideas that will see the government play a vital role in business regulation. The populist supported the farmers, but they also supported the need for women to be allowed in voting. Their main aim in supporting direct voting for senators and women suffrage was to hope that they would be able to have some of their members elected (Foner, 2019, p. 728). Still, they were in the front line fighting for the immigrant workers rights in factories (Foner, 2019, p. 682). Populism also fought for an easier way to get credit, union recognition, and favourable workings hours.
Populism believed in maximizing efficiency by minimizing corruption in the government and other institutions. They also wanted to develop strategies to see experts being voted in the government to be more effective. They also incorporated the black populism from the south, where they hoped that the government would cater to everyone’s interest in society. The movement was seen to be supporting reforms and not a revolution as other political pastries.
It is crystal clear that populists were diverse, just like their reforms. They had a lot to fight for, such as minimum wages, poor health policies, working environment issues, prison regulation, and child labour issues. Although their aims were for the god of society, their party faded away, leading to their failure. For instance, they never secured any seat in congress, and the Republican candidate defeated their presidential candidate. Still, this followed after the falling down of the cotton process.
1. Eric Foner, E. (2019). Give me liberty!: An American history seagull 6E combined Vol: Seagull 1 volume (6th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.
Please cite only from: Eric Foner, E. (2019). Give me liberty!: An American history seagull 6E combined Vol: Seagull 1 volume (6th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company. source
