JANUARY 15 2020 UNIVERSITY HIGH APUSH JACOB RIIS

JANUARY 15, 2020 UNIVERSITY HIGH APUSH

JACOB RIIS, HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES, PHOTOGRAPH DESCRIPTIONS Read the descriptions of the different neighborhoods and answer the following: In what ways do you believe ethnic-based descriptions like these may have helped Riis’ case that the city’s dwellings needed improvement? In what ways do they hinder his case? Many of the photographs taken were elaborately staged, and many of the photographed individuals were illiterate, never reading his book. Does that taint his work or are those facts just a necessary element of convincing those in power to improve the city?

POPULISM APUSH PERIOD 6

OPENING QUESTION What is ‘Populism’?

POPULISM AND THE POPULIST PARTY ‘Populism’ means support for the concerns of ordinary people Populist (People’s) Party: Advocated for free coinage of silver, income tax, regulation of railroads, and direct election of senators Strong support from farmers Strong showing in the 1892 election (over 1 million votes) Merged with Democratic Party in 1896

WHAT DOES “FREE-SILVER” MEAN? “Free-silver” supporters advocated for switching to the silver standard U. S. currency on gold standard All currency backed by gold Silver much more common Farmers strongly wanted in crease in currency Increase the price of commodities Easier to get loans; lower interest rates

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN Populist/Democrat Great orator, well-known Strong supporter of “free silver” Strong supporter of the Social Gospel After the Election of 1896: Ran for President again in 1900 and 1908 Secy of State under Wilson and lawyer against teaching evolution at Scopes trial

CLOSE READING (‘CROSS OF GOLD’ SPEECH) : WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, JULY 1896 1. Where is Bryan speaking? 2. What is his purpose? 3. What is the main “message” of this speech? 4. What made this speech so impactful (to the point that it is seen as one of the most important speeches in U. S. history)?

NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE: BERNIE SANDERS AND DONALD TRUMP AS POPULISTS (FROM MARCH 2016) Annotate as we read together

NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE: BERNIE SANDERS AND DONALD TRUMP AS POPULISTS (FROM MARCH 2016) Questions: 1. What connections can you see between Senator Sanders and/or President-Elect Trump and populists from earlier in U. S. history? 2. What is meant by the last line: “To simply blame the messenger is an exercise in denial”? 3. Is there anything that intrigued you about this article (if so, what)? 4. Is there anything that confused you about this article (if so, what)?