Graduation Speech My Writing - 1565 Words

Portfolio Argument Essay Throughout the semester, I was asked to summarize, respond to, analyze, and build upon the works of others.The transition from high school English to college English was an obstacle to overcome. Throughout the semester, I was given a multitude of feedback on different pieces to improve my writing. My writing drastically improved from high school to college and will continue to change in the expanse of the semester and the remainder of my college career. Through the feedback of Professor Valley and my Writing Fellow, Emily, I have improved in my writing through including more specific details, stronger vocabulary, improved organization, and being able to better identify problems in my own writing.†¦show more content†¦Also, the quote I added was not explained afterwards. The reader would not know why the quote is there. Looking at the quote now, I realize that is not correct and the quote needs to be explained in greater detail to provide the reader t he most efficient information. Knowing to add more specific details is an essential skill to enhance my writing. In my most recent paper I didn t do that as much but still left out specific details. Valley commented, â€Å"You could have clarified your points with more details and examples, but you re pretty thorough throughout.† From the feedback, I noticed how much I have strengthened my writing from simply adding in more details. From the first day of English 101 to the end of the semester, I was introduced to countless essentials for being a better writer. In my past assignments, Professor Valley commented on my paper to use stronger vocabulary. After reviewing one day in class, Ms. Valley introduced a tool to use when wanted to enhance vocabulary within a paper. She listed several words not to use often in a professional paper: it, very, my opinion, etc. When pressing â€Å"Control† and â€Å"F†, a search box appears enabling users to search for specific words. Searching words such as it, very, etc. and exchanging them with stronger vocabulary words can make a paper more professional. Then for my paper, I used the search, find, and replace method. First I searched for the common words and found thirty-four matches for the

The Effect of Homelessness on the Youth of America

There are millions of homeless youth in America. On any given night, you can find these children ducking into abandoned buildings, crammed up against alley dumpsters, curled inside the big yellow slide of a local playground. I imagine they are thankful for sleep, wary of a new day, but thankful nonetheless. Homelessness at such a young age if left alone, leads to increased rates of conflict. The more homeless youths now, the more our country as a whole will have to deal with divorce, mental illness, and the need for government assistance. We can prevent this in many different ways. We can give donations. We as basic consumers, can make more thought out economical decisions. We can push for legislation demanding a stricter screening of†¦show more content†¦Women, in particular, are the most vulnerable. These facts, although troubling, are something we should all be aware of. As most of us become conscious of the effects of homelessness, the mental disorders and the increased need for welfare, we start to recognize how important the issue is. When educated, we are extremely capable of coming together as a nation. We know what it is to advocate, to fight for what we believe in. That is how this country came to be, isnt it? With an mighty passion for building a better life for our children? With the informing of the nation, next comes the awareness of the government. The most influential Americans, the ones capable of written, federal change, have turned an ear to the cause. Legislation so far has helped greatly. Acts like the Housing and Community Act of 1974, which gave housing opportunities for lower income families, and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, an organization aimed at helping communities and with which the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program was added to in 1987, have supported the cause to this day. The aforementioned Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program ensured homeless children and youth equal access to an education. Even with this help, many schools found conflict arising in areas such as residency, guardian requirements, incomplete or missing documentation (Dealing with 114). There isShow MoreRelatedHomeless in The United States 1309 Words   |  6 PagesHomelessness is a problem that happens in many different countries around the world. Definitions of homelessness are defined in different meanings by different people. However, the Stewart B. McKinney Act defines a homeless person as â€Å" one who lacks a fixed permanent nighttime residence or whose nighttime residence is a temporary shelter, welfare hotel, or any public or private place not designed as sleeping accommodations for human beings† (McNamara 1025). It is impossible to find out exactly theRead MoreAnnotated Outline Homelessness Essay1592 Words   |  7 PagesOutline 1. Abstract All over America, there are people wandering the streets without a home. These individuals are seen as a crowd, a separate collective existence. They are called the homeless, as if that defines who they are, but we too often neglect to add the unspoken word in that title; people. It seems today that the more fortunate citizens of America who have a roof over their heads have forgotten their innate responsibility to watch over those in this world whom are incapable of caringRead MoreAdolescent Changes1416 Words   |  6 Pagesattitudes and the effect it has on individual behaviors. Being raised by parent with a negative attitude about everything that a child attempts’ to strive for can have a negative effect on the child mental state and their individual behavior. They will begin to feel as if nothing that they do is right and can become cold to others and show that same behavior that was taught to them to others. The types of influences that they are subjected too during thi s crucial time can have an effect on the next generationRead MoreCauses And Effects Of Homelessness Essay1267 Words   |  6 Pages Causes and effects of homelessness in industrialized countries Student Name Institution â€Æ' Introduction Homelessness is the lack of a place to leave or sleep especially during the night. Homeless people do not have proper housing, security and most of them sleep in different places depending on various conditions. Homelessness definition can vary in countries or in various regions in the same country. According to Evans, L., Strathdee in the book â€Å"A roof is not enough†, he explainsRead MoreEssay about Homeless Children In America1111 Words   |  5 PagesHomeless Children in America   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To be homeless is to not have a home or a permanent place of residence. Nationwide, there is estimated to be 3.5 million people that are homeless, and roughly 1.35 million of them are children. It is shown that homeless rates, which are the number of sheltered beds in a city divided by the cities population, have tripled since the 1980’s (National Coalition for Homeless, 2014). Worldwide, it is estimated that 100 million children live and work on the streets.Read MoreYouth Among The Homeless Essay1118 Words   |  5 Pages Homelessness is all around the world, and many people have either dealt with the issue or had first-hand experience with it. Thus causes everyone to think about the possible solutions to such an important social and economic problem. Whether or not anyone wants to support or ignore the issue, it will always be there. However, the youth population is on the rise among the homeless. While the exact number of youth among the homeless is hard to determine, given various information about homelessnessRead MoreHomeless Students During Modern Society1500 Words   |  6 Pagesabout half of the homeless people in the world are children and students, who do not abuse drugs. Sadly, the number of Homeless Students and Children in Caldwell county, and across the nation, is increasing, and the academic, social, and physical effects are devastating. From the from the article, â€Å"Global Homeless Statistics† on the website homelessworldcup.org, â€Å"The last time a global survey was attempted (by the United Nations in 2005), an estimated 100 million people were homeless worldwide. AsRead More Homelessness in Public Schools998 Words   |  4 PagesNational Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) reported that the U.S. Department of Education collected data stating â€Å"during the 2008-2009 school year that 954,914 homeless children and youth were enrolled in public schools.† This problem affects the child socially, mentally, and most importantly academically. The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) defines Homelessness â€Å"is a lack of permanent housing resulting from extreme povertyRead MoreEssay on LGBTQ Youth: The Endless Strife1362 Words   |  6 PagesRudy Estrada and Rob Woronoff wrote of the following statement made by an adolescent during the 2002 Regional Listening Forum for LGBTQ youth: I realized that being gay is not my problem. It’s their problem. I see it as a social disease. I try not to get involved in negative communities. But I do try to teach them. I’d rather teach them than ignore them. Otherwise, the ignorance will continue and nothing will ever be done about it. (380) Ignorance is the root of nearly all tribulations surroundingRead MoreThe Homeless Are Homeless : A Middle Class Lifestyle After Marriage1654 Words   |  7 Pagesat least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years (Doran). The reason there are so many homeless people now in the country is because of a very punitive and moralistic societal value we have about people who are homeless and in desperate need. (Tsemberis). The government should provide more adequate shelter because child homelessness is at an all time high in the United States, mental health issues are more common among homeless people, veteran homelessness is increasing throughout

A Case Study of Constructive Relations at Wollongong Yard

Question: Discuss about the Case Study of Constructive Relations at Wollongong Yard. Answer: Introduction A vital approach to managing an organization to achieve success is the headache of modern day managers. Well managed businesses are the difference between success and productive organizations and the failure of businesses (Hendry, 2012). Managing personnel for performance is a continuing process which should be embraced by businesses today. This will, in turn, ensure productivity, engagement and employee satisfaction. A manager who is focused on the performance of his employees and the business must have a well laid down program on staff development, he/she communicates regularly with the employees and the customers, builds a culture of performance and trust between the parties involved (Aras.et al.2010). This will enable the business to come up with a good succession plan. Performance-based management is essential in any business setting because it improves the performance of employees in an organization, a conducive working environment is created for an employee to work in and in c ooperates business values into the day to day operations of the business. Keywords Organization, Change, Management, Risk, Union The New Workplace Practices and How They Complement Each Other Our case study focuses on a company which has been able to successfully adopt the managing for performance initiative after being bought from the previous owners. The performance-based management in the business has seen it being envied by other businesses who now want to learn from the current management the secret behind the success. The business through the new yard manager successfully introduced new workplace practices which are complementing each other. The new methods he introduced include; the manager talks to the drivers and union reps frequently, he is rational when dealing with issues that arise and does not blame his drivers. The company drivers receive training on how to improve on occupational health and safety practices. These practices have a correlation and complement each other in various capacities, for instance, frequent talking to the drivers make the drivers feel their importance in the company, and that is why the drivers say they feel they are no longer being treated like children. The manager through working on improving on occupational health and safety of the drivers complements the drivers satisfaction with their job as indicated by saying they no longer feel their backs bent but now straightened, this is beneficial to the health of the workforce. Through consultation with the union repr esentative, called George, the manager can know what the drivers want hence providing them with the necessary requirements for the job. For instance, the drivers are satisfied with their new trucks and uniforms. Even though the employees alluded to the fact that they did not like some of the changes or practices being introduced by the new manager, these practices proved to be beneficial to the drivers. As evident from the case study, performance-based management practices introduced by the new yard manager had a good result over the years that followed, including the winning of the new contracts. This clearly indicates that good practices complement success and vice versa (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The Risks Associated With Sustaining The Changes if the Union Representative or the Yard Manager Moves On A risk is defined as any event with the potential of impacting negatively on the current and future value of the business (Saunders Cornett, 2014). Many at times, many businesses such as Wollongong yard company are faced with the necessity of change, in this case, the business was about to be shut down by the previous owners. The business was faced with an undesirable and deplorable condition. The only option was to sell the business to wealthy individuals who had the resources needed to ensure the change happens. However, introducing new tactics has risks which are associated with it. It is never smooth (Turner, 2014). In our case, suppose the manager and the union representative were to leave the business a lot would go wrong. For instance, managing politics surrounding the change process can be an issue suppose the manager leaves. People have a tendency of wanting to repeal the gains made when the person overseeing the process is no longer available. Employees would want to go back to a previous moment when they were in a comfort zone (Rosenbaum, 2013). Introducing new workplace practice should be a well-managed process by an individual who understands and implements the project (Brodkin, 2011). The employees have become accustomed to the new practices and procedures but getting another manager to replace the yard manager would derail the change process, this is because the new incoming manager will take the time to learn about the new practices as well as get to know and understand the employees hence derailing the overall process. Many of the transitions are likely to be stalled; the business will be left with the task of sourcing for a new yard manager taking into consideration the time and resources required to advertise and recruit another suitable manager to take charge (Weber.et.al, 2012). Some of the changes that are implemented take time, say years. Many businesses like Wollongong yard have to take a year or two to transition into the projected state of operations fully. During this period, it is vital that the operations continue without a hitch like that of losing a manager (Cameron Green, 2015). Employees in organizations which are successful and have that bond with their managers are regarded as a valuable asset of the business. Some employees cherish the relationship they have with the management. Employees who feel this bond is broken may decide to change jobs and look for employment elsewhere should their manager and union representative move on, hence leaving the change process which had commenced hanging (Jain Kaur, 2014). The manager leaving would mean that the business will have a daunting task of looking for someone who can operate like the predecessor or someone who is even better and this is not likely to happen anytime soon. The union representative is also likely to influence and sway the attitude of the workers left behind, for instance, the business might not fully implement changes focused towards bettering the lives of the employees because the union official who advocated for their rights is no longer available. Better growth in business leads to better pa ying and working conditions; the union representative has the collective bargaining role on behalf of the drivers. His absence will result in discontent among the drivers hence without finding a replacement or electing a new representative, performance of the drivers and the business is likely to be affected. Tough Blue Collar Unions and Public Sector Union Participation in Change In Tough blue collar unions like the Transport Workers Union are less likely to engage in Workplace changes than public service sector unions. Since the beginning of the 20th century, public sector unions have undergone transformations with implications for the politics of the states. Compared to the blue collar unions which are regarded as traditional, the membership of the public sector union members has grown exponentially over the last decade. According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of public union members is tripling that of the blue-collar union members (Davis, 2011). This big number of membership gives the public unions a say in the workplace changes as well as in the national politics. When used correctly, their numbers can influence policies which affect certain shifts in the workplace, which is tilted towards favoring their demands as compared to the blue collar unions. They might have a reasonable number, but their participation in the direction of policies and workplace changes can be restricted solely because a majority of their members are in the private sector. A good way to find out about how blue collar unions and public sector unions engage in change process can be established through investigating the perceptions of how the employees feel about their representation during a change process. You can go further try to determine whether the employees through their union representatives were allowed to give their views before the change occurs (Levesque Murray, 2010). In my course of writing the report, I did a survey of both the public and blue collar union participation in changes; the findings are that the public sector participates more in change processes through their representatives than their counterparts. Findings, Conclusion, and Recommendations The human resource function in any organization is key to ensure that the business succeeds in its set goals and objectives. For many years businesses have failed to identify the key ingredient that enables a business to prosper, the human resources (Puccio.et.al, 2010). The business in our case Wollongong Yard came up with a good strategy and hired a manager who knew for the change to succeed, he had to get the employees on board. The business came up with workplace practices such as constant new kitting for its workforce as well as putting new computer system in place to help run the operations smoothly. In reviewing the success of the business, it is essential that proper planning is done. A good planning process well laid down for all the parties in a business stating what is expected of everyone leads to proper transitions in businesses (Rumelt, 2012). The progress made by Wollongong business was the result of a proper plan put in place by the new manager and the top management, but in collaboration with the union representatives, this ensured a smooth transition in the operations. Sometimes the human resource function may fail the business; the union representation might have hidden motives. It is essential that when this issue is noticed, a crisis meeting is convened and if necessary a review of the business practices is done. A business should not wait until the last minute to acknowledge that it is facing challenges, sometimes being open to the employees as a manager can lead to averting certain catastrophes that may befall the business. References Aras, G., Aybars, A., Kutlu, O. (2010). Managing corporate performance: Investigating the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in emerging markets.International Journal of productivity and Performance management,59(3), 229-254. Armstrong, M., Taylor, S. (2014).Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. Brodkin, E. Z. (2011). Policy work: Street-level organizations under new managerialism.Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory,21(suppl 2), i253-i277. Cameron, E., Green, M. (2015).Making sense of change management: a complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers. Davis, R. S. (2011). Blue-collar public servants: How union membership influences public service motivation.The American Review of Public Administration,41(6), 705-723. Hendry, C. (2012).Human resource management. Routledge. Jain, R., Kaur, S. (2014). Impact of work environment on job satisfaction.International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications,4(1), 1-8. Lvesque, C., Murray, G. (2010). Understanding union power: resources and capabilities for renewing union capacity.Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research,16(3), 333-350. Puccio, G. J., Mance, M., Murdock, M. C. (2010).Creative leadership: Skills that drive change. Sage Publications. Rosenbaum, W. A. (2013).Environmental politics and policy. Cq Press. Rumelt, R. P. (2012). Good strategy/bad strategy: The difference and why it matters.Strategic Direction,28(8). Saunders, A., Cornett, M. M. (2014).Financial institutions management. McGraw-Hill Education, Turner, J. R. (2014).The handbook of project-based management(Vol. 92). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Weber, Yaakov, and Shlomo Yedidia Tarba. "Mergers and acquisitions process: The use of corporate culture analysis."Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal19.3 (2012): 288-303.

The Rise and Fall of Populism free essay sample

The Farmers Alliance In the sass, as drought hit the wheat-growing areas of the Great Plains and prices for Southern cotton sunk to new lows, many tenant farmers fell into deep debt. Lenders, grain-elevator owners, and others with whom farmers did business were angered. Depression worsened in the early 1 8905, and some industrial workers shared different views on labor, trust, and monopolies. If the various alliances between the North and South were able to unite, they wouldve created an astonishing mighty political force.Unfortunately, sectional differences and personality clashes quickly halted this idea. The Saint Louis meeting in 1889 formed a clear idea where certain alliances existed. Clearly, white southerners feared reprisals from landowners, and objected participation by blacks. They also rejected proposals that would have ended secret whites-only activities. Northerners also feared domination by more experienced southern leaders. The Republican Party mostly consisted of Northern farmers who wanted protective tariffs to keep out foreign grain. Democrats, who were mostly white southerners, wanted low tariffs to hold down the costs of foreign manufactured goods. Despite these differences, both parties did favor the overpayment regulation of transportation and communications, liberal credit policies, equitable taxation, prohibition of landownership, by foreign investigators, and currency reform. Due to this confidence, the alliances drew more deeply into politics. Farmers had elected a number of officeholders in 1890. Alliance members controlled four governorships, eight state legislatures, forty-four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and three seats in the U. S. Senate. The Populist movement arose as a revolt against the special privileges of industrialism and the American banking system. The Rise of Populists In the Midwest, Alliance candidates often ran on the independent third- party tickets and achieved some success in Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakota. During the summer of 1890, the Kansas Alliance held a convention of the people Formation of the Peoples party eventually began to call themselves Populists which derives from the Latin word populous meaning people.This American movement primarily stared to improve conditions for farmers and laborers. The Election of 1892 As the populists won over the state legislature of Kansas in 1 890, William Prefer became the partys first U. S. Senator. Due to Puffers humorous Geiger, Easter journalists and politicians viewed the party as a joke. Despite their opinion, the party gained popularity and support. By 1 892, the party was ready for independent action. They summoned a Peoples party convention in Omaha on July 4 to draft a platform and nominate a presidential candidate. The new partys platform was one of the most comprehensive reform documents in American history. Corruption dominated the ballot box. More importantly, corruption fostered inequality that threatened to split American society. The Omaha platform claimed Wealth belongs to him that created it, ND addressed the three central sources of unrest: transportation, land, and money. Populists demanded government ownership of telegraph lines and railroads and urged the federal government to reclaim all land owned for speculative purposes by railroads and foreigners.Others advocated a graduated income tax, postal savings banks, direct election of the U. S. Senators, and shorter hours for workers. The party nominated an official founder through a merger of the Farmers Alliance and the Knights of Labor. James B. Weaver of Iowa was a former Union general and supporter of a liberally increased money supply. The Populist campaign roared of colorful speeches from Cockles Jerry Simpson, an unschooled rural reformer, and of Mary Ellen Lease, who urged farmers to raise less corn and more hell The South introduced Charles W. Menace of Texas, Thomas Watson of Georgia, and Leonia Polk of North Carolina.The vigorous language on the Omaha platform derived from Minnesotas Igniting Donnelly, pseudo-scientist and writer of apocalyptic novels. Finally, the campaign presented James Hog, the three-hundred- pound governor of Texas, and one-eyed Senator, Pitchfork Ben Italian of South Carolina, who ere not dedicated populists, but rather used the campaigning for their own political needs. James B. Weaver and campaigned for the following: Unlimited cheap silver money (they wanted a rate of sixteen ounces of silver to one ounce Of gold) ;Government ownership Of all railroads and telephone companies ; A graduated income tax Direct election of U.S. Senators ; Single-term limits for presidents ; Immigration restriction ; Shorter workdays Although Weaver gathered over a million votes in the 1 892 election, and majorities in four states and twenty-two electoral votes, he lost badly. Rural dwellers still had emotional faith in the future. Even though populists were flawed Democrats-they still wanted to fulfill their version of American ideals and stuck with their mistrust of blacks. Millions of people had begun to believe that a cooperative democracy could overcome corporate power.Between 1 892 and 1896, however, the party failed to make further gains, in part because of fraud, intimidation, and violence by Southern Democrats. The Depression of 1893 An apparently minor but ominous event occurred shortly before Grover Cleveland took office for the second time in 1893: the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, one a profitable line, went bankrupt. Due to the heavy borrowing to lay the track and build stations and bridges, ultimately put the company into an unplayable debt. Manufacturers experienced a similar dilemma.McCormick farm machinery factories bought more machines to get more work out of fewer laborers. This strategy, however, only enlarged the debt and increased unemployment. The employers couldnt pay their creditors. The failure of the National Cordage Company in May 1893 accelerated a chain reaction of business and bank closings. By June, the number of failed banks reached 128. Between 1893 and 1897, the nation suffered the worst economic depression it has ever experienced. The severe depression made Grover Cleveland, from the Democratic party wildly unpopular.Between 1892 and 1 895, New York policeman estimated that twenty thousand homeless and jobless people roamed the city streets. As the depression grew, the currency conflict reached a breaking point. The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1 890 had committed the government to buy 4. 5 million ounces of silver each month. Payment was to be in gold, at the ratio of one ounce of gold for every sixteen ounces of silver. The nations gold reserve soon fell below $100 million in early 1893. President Cleveland called a special session of Congress to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act and was actually repealed in late 1893.At about the time Cleveland called the session, doctors had discovered a malignant tumor on his plate that required immediate removal. He kept his illness a secret in fear of the publics attention. He eventually recovered, but those who knew of his surgery believed it had sapped his vitality. After improving slightly, in 1 895, the economy plunged again. Farm income declines, factories closed, and banks that remained open restricted withdrawals. As in most hard times, the depression reached a limit. New gold discoveries in Alaska, good harvests, and industrial growth brought relief.Railroads had been the primary mover of the American economy in the sass ,which led to the opening of new markets. By 1890, many companies expanded too rapidly. People also under-estimated their debts driving five hundred banks and sixteen thousand businesses into failure. Canadian and Russian wheat growers, Argentine cattle ranchers, Indian and Egyptian cotton producers, and Australian wool producers also implicated matters with American farmers. When farmers fell into debt and lost purchasing power, the economic health of railroads, farm-implements, manufacturers, banks and other businesses Were affected.Over thirteen hundred strikes and riots took place in 1 894, which led to the beginning of the era of protest in 1877. Throughout this time, societies began to establish a new socialist order of justice and inequality. It appealed to intellectuals because it promised an end to class conflict and crude materialism. Coccyxs Army American socialism lacked strong leadership and therefore suffered rattle. In 1 894, the American Railway Union elevated a new socialist leader, Eugene V. Debs. Although he never good at organizing, Debs captivated large audiences with his attacks on the free-enterprise system.Soon enough, however, Debs had to share his attention with a quiet businessman from Mainsails, Ohio. Like Debs, Jacob S. Coxes believed the government should issue paper money unpacked by gold. Coxes started an army and gathered recruiters from industrial towns and rural villages. His march on April 30th, expressed the frustration of people seeking relief from uncertainty. The roofs main focus was more jobs and better living standards. This group eventually became the Socialist party by the 1 9005. Democratic leaders wanted to destroy the third-party threat.Because of this, many Populists decided to maintain a middle ground between the two larger parties and not merge with either. Inside the peoples party, mid- readers sought to schedule the national convention before those of the Republicans and Democrats. When they lost the fights, fusions hoped that silver-Democrats would be victorious in the convention. When this happenedwith the nomination of William Jennings Bryan on a ere-silver platformmid-readers found themselves in a difficult spot. The Populists were underhanded and industrialized in late 1894.Republicans and Democrats took turns to destroy the Populist voting strength. To do so, southern white legislators took steps into preventing all blacks from voting. In 1 876, the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited states from denying the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Their second attempt was implying a poll tax eight months before voting and to prove someone is literate, expecting many blacks to be incapable of such acts. Bryan and the Cross Of Gold speech Democrats who were silver supporters went over to the Populists as the presidential elections of 1 896 neared. The Democratic convention that year was witness to one of the most famous speeches in U. S. Political history. Pleading with the convention not to crucify mankind on a cross of gold, William Jennings Bryan, the young Nebraskan champion of silver, won the Democrats presidential nomination but it presented the Populist party with a serious problem. Should Populists join Democrats in support of Bryan, or should they nominate their own candidate? Many reasoned that supporting a efferent candidate would split the anti-McKinley vote and guarantee a Republican victory.The Failure of Populism The results revealed that the political stand-off had finally ended. McKinley beat Bryan by over 600,000 popular votes and won in the Electoral College by 271 to 176. McKinley appealed to a wide range of Americans. Conservative Americans feared cheap money and inflation so much that they flocked to McKinley and the Republican camp. Wealthy businessmen in the East dumped about $6-?12 million into McKinley campaign, making it the fattest campaign fund of any American candidate ever. Some Democrats tie reasonably claimed that McKinley had purchased the White House.McKinley ultimately killed the Populists dream of free silver in 1 900 when he signed the Gold Standard Act to peg the value Of the dollar to an ounce Of gold. He also signed the Dingles Tariff in 1897 to set overall tariff rates at about 45 percent. Although Populists and fusion candidates won a few state and congressional elections, the Bryan-Watson ticket of the Populist party polled only 222,600 votes nationwide. Therefore, the Populist crusade collapsed in 1896. Historians regard the election of 1 896 as one of the most important elections of the nineteenth century, and certainly the most significant election since the Civil War.First, it represented a victory of urban middle-class Americans over agrarian interests in the West and South. Populism had never really spread into the cities, and Brans appeal for free silver and inflation had alienated even the poorest Americans in the cities who depended on a stable dollar for survival. The Bryan campaign thus marked the last attempt to win the presidency through appeals to rural voters. It also marked the death of the Populist movement, which lost steam when it purported the Bryan campaign, essentially merging With the Democratic Party.