pp. 662-673

While reading the section in the text, answer the following guided questions:

1. What were the consequences of the extraordinary wealth being held in so few hands?
2. What were some of the fears that wealthy Americans and other observers faced during the 1890s?
3. What similarities existed amongst the various Republican efforts to curb the size of corporations during the 1890s?
4. What groups suffered because of the political compromises made by Republicans in order to get their legislation passed? Give examples.
5. Why were agrarian activists so eager to have silver as a basis for currency?
6. What weaknesses did the Populists have?
7. What caused the Panic of 1893?
8. What were the consequences of the Panic of 1893?
9. How did the Panic of 1893 show the contrasting realities for the rich and poor?
10. How did the election results in 1896 demonstrate the platform of the Democratic Party?
11. In your opinion, what flaws existed in the Demcratic campaign that foreshadowed their defeat in the election?
12. How did the election of 1896 change the political futures of the Democrats and Republicans?