Chapter 8

Question 1

political machines

Answer 1

well-organized political parties in charge of public offices
- managed by political bosses

Question 2

Alexander Shepherd

Answer 2

political boss who spent $20 million on civic improvements and new jobs in Washington D.C.

Question 3

What role did political machines play in the growth of U.S. cities?

Answer 3

provided jobs

Question 4

What demands did political bosses work to achieve?

Answer 4

• fire and police departments
• sanitation departments
• construction of bridges, parks, schools, streets, sewer systems, and utility systems

Question 5

Tammany Hall

Answer 5

a democratic political machine in New York City that helped immigrants become naturalized and find temporary housing

Question 6

James Pendergast

Answer 6

a political boss from Kansas City, Missouri who provided jobs and special services to his African American, Irish American, and Italian American constituents

Question 7

Describe the relationship between immigrants and political machines.

Answer 7

immigrants needed jobs and political machines needed votes

Question 8

graft

Answer 8

the acquisition of money/political power through illegal or dishonest methods

Question 9

kickbacks

Answer 9

payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract

Question 10

What scandals occurred during Grant’s presidency?

Answer 10

• gold scandal
• railroad credit scandal
• whiskey ring scandal

Question 11

Who became president in 1876 after Ulysses S. Grant?

Answer 11

Rutherford B. Hayes

Question 12

Who became president and vice president in 1880?

Answer 12

• James A. Garfield was president
• Chester A. Arthur was vice president

Question 13

How did Chester A. Arthur become president?

Answer 13

Garfield was assassinated

Question 14

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Answer 14

established the Civil Service Commission to administer exams to people seeking government jobs

Question 15

What economic hardships did farmers face?

Answer 15

• oversupply
• low prices for crops
• high prices for land and machinery
• high rates for freights
• loans couldn’t be repaid
• lost their farms

Question 16

cooperatives

Answer 16

organizations in which groups of farmers pool their resources to buy and sell goods

Question 17

graduated income tax

Answer 17

taxed higher incomes at a higher rate

Question 18

Farmers’ Alliance

Answer 18

a farmers organization that offered farmers low cost insurance; lobbied for tougher bank regulations, government ownership of railroads, and a graduated income tax

Question 19

Mary Elizabeth Lease

Answer 19

leader of the Farmers’ Alliance movement who traveled the county urging people to take action

Question 20

Interstate Commerce Act

Answer 20

prohibited railroads from giving secret refunds to large shippers or charging more for short hauls

Question 21

gold standard

Answer 21

type of monetary system in which a dollar is worth a specific amount in gold

Question 22

Sherman Silver Purchase Act

Answer 22

required the government to buy silver each month and mint it into coins

Question 23

List the platforms of the Populist Party.

Answer 23

• graduated income tax
• government ownership of railroads
• free coinage of silver

Question 24

William McKinley

Answer 24

became president in 1896; adopted a conservative platform upholding the gold standard

Question 25

Why did voters support corrupt political machines?

Answer 25

they received jobs and tax breaks