Populist Movement

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/populist-movement

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary geographic focus?United States, particularly the agrarian South and West
2. What is the key ideological tenets?Anti-elitism, pro-common person, advocacy for government intervention in the economy
3. What was the Populist Movement and when did it happen?The Populist Movement was a group of people in the United States in the 1890s who felt that the government and big companies were unfair to farmers and workers. They wanted changes to help ordinary people.
4. Why did farmers and workers join the Populist Movement?Farmers were in debt because their crops sold for low prices and banks charged high interest. Workers felt they were overworked and wanted better wages and shorter hours.

Laissez-faire capitalism: An economic system where transactions between private parties are free from government intervention such as regulation, privileges, tariffs, and subsidies.
Deflation: A decrease in the general price level of goods and services, often leading to increased debt burdens.
Monopolistic practices: Business activities that reduce or eliminate competition, allowing a single company to control prices and supply.