2.  Low Crop Prices led to debt  Deflation- not a lot of money available  Led to high interest rates and banks would not loan money to farmers

3.  Bi-Metalism- switch to a gold/silver standard  Increase money supply and allow banks more opportunity to give loans

4.  Railroads overcharged farmers to store and ship crops= more debt  Railroads gave industrialists rebates and reduce charges

5.  Government Control Railroads and Telegraphs- keep prices fair and fixed  Interstate Commerce Act- railroads must publish rates (ICC- govt. agency in control)

6.  State legislatures appoint Senators  Industry and wealthy able to control government and appointments  Senate referred to as the “rich man’s club”

9.  Direct Election of Senators- people elect Senators  Lead to 17 th Amendment

10.  Extreme income gap between rich and poor  Farmers and factory workers in debt and facing financial problems

11.  Graduated Income Tax  Income tax= tax on earnings  Graduated Income Tax- wealthy pay more (tax based on how much you earn)

12.  Politicians overly influenced by wealthy business owners  Credit Mobilier Scandal- Railroad owners bribe government officials for loans and money that was stolen and not used for railroad  President Grant’s Administration involved

13.  One Term President- presidents only serve one term (4 years)  22 nd Amendment- limited President to 2 terms  Initiative- people propose bills  Referendum- people vote on and pass bills

14.  Workers  Low Pay  Long Hours  Dangerous Conditions  Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 1911  146 sweatshop women killed due to unsafe conditions

16.  8 hour workday for workers  Minimum Wage Laws will eventually be passed  State government’s begin to pass laws that require safer working conditions

17.  William Jennings Bryant nominated by Democratic and Populist Party -Cross of Gold Speech – supports the “free coinage of silver” (silverites)  William McKinley nominated by Republicans - supports America remaining on the gold standards (goldbugs)  McKinley wins the election and the Populist Party dies out, but its reform ideas are adopted by Republicans and Democrats during the Progressive Era (1890 – 1920)