https://digital.lib.niu.edu/illinois/gildedage/populism
The essay will focus on Turner’s article, “Understanding the Populists.”
Turner’s article is found in the course module. As Turner explains, for decades historians have debated the significance of the Populist Movement. When historians write books/articles they are usually in response to other historians’ books/articles. Historians either argue against each other, add to the cumulative knowledge of the “conventional wisdom” surrounding the historical topic, or on rare occasions offer breakthrough, novel interpretations. Turner reviews the different scholarly perspectives on Populism. Your task is to effectively transmit the contents of the Turner article, but also indicate a clear understanding of Turner’s argument and speak to the pieces of historical evidence that Tuner raises to prove his argument.
Here are some ideas/questions that should help you complete the assignment:
Identify the author, title, and year of publication. Remember the Turner article is your focus.
Situate the topic in its historical context, based on what you know from the textbook and other sources in this class. Take some time to illustrate your understanding of populism.
Identify and summarize the author’s thesis in YOUR OWN WORDS. Demonstrate your ability to read and comprehend a published article and effectively summarizing the main idea(s) of the author in a concise summary. This is the main point of the assignment. State and explain the author’s supporting ideas and evidence. Explain the underlying meaning or goal of the article, not simply the superficial details.
To be sure, your paper should address the following items:
Illustrate an understanding of Populism in American political history.
Transmit Turner’s argument.
In the final section of the paper, use your understanding of the topic to identify one Populist measure that you would have supported (explain why) and one Populist measure that you would have opposed (explain why). Populist reforms are outlined in the Omaha Platform listed above.
The entire paper should be 3-4 pages.
Resources:
These resources can be incorporated into your essay to meet the reference/source requirement for the assignment.
Turner’s article, “Understanding the Populists,” and Brinkley’s review of Hofstadter, “Richard Hofstadter’s The Age of Reform: A Reconsideration,” are the main readings for the assignment.
Secondary Sources:
-The American Yawp offers a section on Populism in Chapter 16. This should help with context.
-Northern Illinois University offers a solid introduction article, have a look.
https://digital.lib.niu.edu/illinois/gildedage/populismLinks to an external site.
-And PBS has an interactive site on Populism:
https://florida.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/us-history-collection/era/populism-and-progressivism-18901918/Links to an external site.
-As a primer to Turner, read Brinkley’s review of Hofstatder’s Age of Reform. This will help you better understand the broader literature surrounding turn-of-the-century reform movements. Brinkley’s review is posted to the course module. You must incorporate Brinkley’s review into your discussion of Turner’s article.
Primary Sources:
“Mattie Oblinger Describes Life on a Nebraska Range,” Johnson, Reading the American Past, Document 17-3.
“Mary Elizabeth Lease Reports on Women in the Farmers’ Alliance,” Johnson, Reading the American Past, Document 20-1.
“The Omaha Platform of the People’s Party,” (1892), found in the Primary Source section in the American Yawp, Chapter 16.
“Dispatch from a Mississippi Colored Farmers’ Alliance (1889), found in the Primary Source section in the American Yawp, Chapter 16.
Writing Standards
The essay will be 3-4 pages long. Make sure you fulfill items 1-3 above.
Standard margins.
12 point times new roman font.
In-text parenthetical citations. For example: (Johnson, 25).
The essay needs to reference/cite the Turner and Brinkley articles. The essay also needs to reference at least two of the sources from the module 2. So, the essay must reference four sources.
All essays need to be submitted to turn-it-in, through canvas. I will not grade the essay if it’s not submitted to turn-it-in.
Proofread the essay. If I can’t understand the writing, the grade will be penalized.
The rubric is posted on the course portal.
Every essay needs a formal works cited page. Remember to cite each individual source. MLA format for works cited page.
