SAQs for APUSH Topic 6.12 — Controversies Over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age

Eight questions designed to help students review for the annual exam and that relate to the debate in America, between 1870–1900, over two questions: what should the government do to promote economic growth and how should it respond to economic downturn.

1. During the Gilded Age, most Americans opposed the call for government intervention during economic downturns. In other words, they wanted to see the role of government limited. Name and briefly describe evidence in support of this claim.
2. During the Gilded Age, some Americans supported the call for government intervention during economic downturns. In other words, they wanted to see the government rein in the influence of big businesses and hence called for an expansion on the role of government. The western Farmers' founding of the Populist Party is evidence in support of this claim. Name and briefly describe one way in which the Populists called for an expanded role of government. Jacob Coxey’s march and attempt to speak at the Capitol is also evidence in support of this claim. What role did Coxey want to see the government play in terms of the Depression that existed at the time of his march.
3. During the Gilded Age, Americans also debated the role of Government when it came to foreign affairs. Some wanted the government to increasinly look outside the U.S. borders in an effort to gain greater influence and control over markets and natural resources in the Pacific Rim, Asia, and Latin America. One piece of evidence in support of this claim is the annexation of Hawaii; another is the purchase of Alaska is also often viewed as evidence in support of this claim. The best evidence in support of this claim is Alfred Thayer Mahan The Influence of Sea Power Upon History: 1660–1783. What in essence did Mahan call for in his book? Last question. Name one group of Americans who did not want to see the government increasingly look outside the U.S. borders in an effort to gain greater influence and control over markets and natural resources in the Pacific Rim, Asia, and Latin America?
4. Prior to the Gilded Age, the government would occasionally take on a more active (aka expanded) role in regards to the promotion of economic growth. It would even go so far as to subsidize business. Name and briefly describe one example of the government subsiding business in the years before the Gilded Age.
5. Prior to the Gilded Age, the government would on occasion look outside the U.S. borders in an effort to gain greater influence and control over markets and natural resources. The Mexican American War is evidence in support of this claim. So too is the Louisiana Purchase. Click here for fifteen questions that relate to that purchase.
6. Why is the Monroe Doctrine not a piece of evidence that can be used to support the claim that during the Gilded Age, the government would on occasion look outside the U.S. borders in an effort to gain greater influence and control over markets and natural resources?
7. Why is the Perry Expedition not a piece of evidence that can be used to support the claim that during the Gilded Age, the government would on occasion look outside the U.S. borders in an effort to gain greater influence and control over markets and natural resources?
8. Is the Spanish American War a piece of evidence that can be used to support the claim that during the Gilded Age the government would on occasion look outside the U.S. borders in an effort to gain greater influence and control over markets and natural resources? Click here for ten questions that relate to this ten-week armed conflict between Spain and the United States in 1898.