History 479

Fall 2012

Devine

 

Study Questions: Populism

 

Turner, “Understanding the Populists”

 

  1. Does Turner argue that economic conditions dictated whether a farmer voted Populist?  If not, what does he argue?

 

  1. What kind of evidence does Turner use to make his case?  Does his use of this evidence make his argument persuasive to you?

 

  1. Provide a sketch of your typical Texas Populist.  Why did the circumstances and context of his daily make the Populism an attractive movement to him?

 

  1. According to Turner, why did Populism seem to collapse as quickly as it had arisen?

 

  1. How would James Turner modify Frederick Jackson Turner’s thesis regarding the significance of the American frontier?

 

 

Mayhew, “A Reappraisal of the Causes of Farm Protest in the United States, 1870-1900”

 

1. Why is a reappraisal of the causes of farm protest in the United States between 1870 and 1900 necessary?  What was wrong with earlier explanations?

 

  1. Mayhew acknowledges that farmers felt their deteriorating status, but notes that feeling “loss of status” is an abstraction.  What specifically did farmers fear and what specific factors caused them to believe their status was deteriorating?

 

  1. What is a commercial system?

 

  1. What is the difference between farmers who produce for the market and commercial farmers?

 

  1. How did the notion of being a “successful” farmer change between 1860 and 1900?  How was this connected to the outbreak of agrarian protests?

 

  1. According to Mayhew, why did farmers direct their wrath at bankers, salesmen, grain elevator operators, and financiers?