Organize the Evidence for Thinking through Sources 17

Document Links:

Document 17.1 FRANK DOSTER, Labor Day Speech (1894)

Document 17.2 REVEREND J. L. MOORE, The Colored Farmers’ Alliance (1891)

Document 17.3 THOMAS E. WATSON, The Negro Question in the South (1892)

Document 17.4 The People’s Party Tree (1895)

Document 17.5 WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, Cross of Gold Speech (1896)

Organize the Evidence for Thinking through Sources 17

The following exercises provide an opportunity to use the sources collectively to respond to a guiding question.

Guiding Questions: What issues united the farmers and workers who joined the new Populist Party in the 1890s? What conflicts did Populists have to overcome as the group grew in size and influence? How did the party propose to resolve its supporters’ grievances?

Instructions

Below are three topics that might find a place in organizing an essay responding to the guiding question. This exercise asks you to identify which sources would provide relevant evidence for that topic. Select the best answers for each question. Choose ALL that apply. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 17.16

1. Which of the sources provides specific evidence about the concerns that spurred farmers and workers to organize and join the Populist Party in the 1890s? Choose ALL that apply.

R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.1: Frank Doster, Labor Day Speech
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.2: Reverend J. L. Moore, The Colored Farmers’ Alliance
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.3: Thomas E. Watson, The Negro Question in the South
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.4: The People’s Party Tree
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.5: William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold Speech

Question 17.17

2. Which of these documents provides specific evidence about the conflicts that emerged as Populists worked to unite diverse groups of farmers and workers under one third-party umbrella? Choose ALL that apply.

kcVtUDKfaIWTKrqEI7di7A== Document 17.1: Frank Doster, Labor Day Speech
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.2: Reverend J. L. Moore, The Colored Farmers’ Alliance
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.3: Thomas E. Watson, The Negro Question in the South
kcVtUDKfaIWTKrqEI7di7A== Document 17.4: The People’s Party Tree
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.5: William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold Speech
Correct: Document 17.2: Moore describes the race issues and disputes between Republicans and Democrats that caused conflict among Populists. Document 17.3: Watson describes the racial tensions that caused conflict among potential supporters of Populism. Document 17.5: Bryan describes disputes over federal monetary policy that caused conflict among potential supporters of Populism.
Incorrect: Document 17.1: Doster describes the issues that brought Populists together, not those that drove them apart. Document 17.4: The cartoon depicts the issues that brought Populists together, not those that drove them apart.

Question 17.18

3. Which of the following documents provides evidence about the specific proposals the Populist Party made in its political platform? Choose ALL that apply.

R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.1: Frank Doster, Labor Day Speech
kcVtUDKfaIWTKrqEI7di7A== Document 17.2: Reverend J. L. Moore, The Colored Farmers’ Alliance
kcVtUDKfaIWTKrqEI7di7A== Document 17.3: Thomas E. Watson, The Negro Question in the South
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.4: The People’s Party Tree
R6Xlb9MAHXF7O4A0MNT1YQ== Document 17.5: William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold Speech
Correct: Document 17.1: Doster describes some of the specific proposals that the Populist Party made in its platform. Document 17.4: The cartoon illustrates some of the specific proposals that Populists made in their political platform. Document 17.5: Bryan describes some of the specific proposals that Populists made in their platform.
Incorrect: Document 17.2: Moore does not provide specific details about Populists’ proposals. Document 17.3: Watson does not provide specific details about Populists’ proposals.

Thinking through Sources forExploring American Histories, Volume 2Printed Page 137