3.1 The Populist Party Reading Q

What was one major problem farmers faced when moving their crops to market?

• Trains charged high prices to move crops.

• Crops spoiled quickly during transport.

• Farmers had to walk their crops to market.

• There were not enough buyers for crops.

What was the main goal of the Populist Party?

• To help farmers and workers by making changes to laws and money.

• To support only big companies.

• To end all farming in America.

• To create a new railroad system.

How did the Populist Party want to change the way senators were chosen?

• By allowing people to vote directly for senators.

• By letting only farmers choose senators.

• By having senators chosen by big companies.

• By making senators serve for life.

Why did the Populist Party want secret voting?

• To stop people from being scared into voting a certain way.

• To make elections faster.

• To help big companies win elections.

• To reduce the number of voters.

What was one way the Populist Party tried to help farmers get fair prices?

• By making rules to control big companies.

• By banning all crop sales.

• By giving free land to everyone.

• By stopping the use of trains.

How did the Populist Party influence American politics, even after it ended?

• Its ideas became laws and changed how political parties acted.

• It made farming illegal.

• It created new states in the West.

• It ended all political parties.

What was a lasting impact of the Populist Party on the two main political parties?

• It made them pay attention to what farmers and workers needed.

• It forced them to merge into one party.

• It made them ignore farming issues.

• It banned them from running for office.

Why did farmers want to make it cheaper to send their crops to places?

• So they could keep more of the money they earned.

• So they could grow fewer crops.

• So they could avoid using trains.

• So they could sell only to local buyers.

What was a problem with big companies having too much power in farming?

• They controlled important things like prices, loans, and transportation.

• They gave away free land to farmers.

• They helped farmers get higher prices for crops.

• They built new schools for farmers' children.

How did the Populist Party's ideas continue to affect America after the party ended?

• Many of its ideas became laws and influenced politics.

• All farmers became wealthy.

• The party was forgotten completely.

• Farming was banned in some states.