1. BELLWORK 1.Describe the living conditions during the Industrial Revolution. 2.Describe the working conditions during the Industrial Revolution. 3.What was the Pullman Strike? 4.THINKER: As you know, consumerism and big businesses created a large upper class. So which groups suffered? How do you think they were effected by these big businesses?

2. Populist Party In July 1892, the delegates of a new political party met to fortify their alliance: “We have witnessed for more than a quarter of a century the struggles of the two great political parties for power and plunder, while grievous wrongs have been inflicted upon the suffering people…. We seek to restore the government of the Republic to the hands of THE PLAIN PEOPLE!” Populist Platform; July 1892

3. The Populist Party The People’s Party, or Populist party represented farmers, laborers and reformers, who wanted to give power to the common people. After the economy took a fall in 1893, the Populist Party fought for change.

6. The Populist Party Platform 1.Demand for the free and unrestricted coinage of silver. No more gold standard! 2.Fair level of prices and labor production 3.The wealthy should bear proportion of taxation through an income tax. 4.Government should own and operate the railroads, telegraphs, and telephones 5.Direct legislation – voters propose a law and vote on it 6.Direct election of U.S. Senators by the people 7.Establishment of an 8 hour work day

7. Gold Standard

8. Important People Mary E. Lease: worked with the Farmer’s Alliance to form the Populist party. William Jennings Bryan: fought for the free- silver platform, Presidential candidate in 1896 William McKinley: favored gold standard, supported by Standard Oil, became President in 1896 Marc Hanna: Ohio Senator and close advisor to McKinley

10. Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan VS. William McKinley

11. Election of 1896

14. Decline of the Populist Party The Populist Party started to decline due to: –Bryan losing the Presidential election –Discovery of Gold in Alaska in 1898 Many of its goals were adopted as law –Graduated income tax (16 th Amendment) –Direct election of U.S. Senators (17 th Amendment) –Eight hour workday

15. CLOSURE Who made up the Populist Party? What was the Populist Party fighting for? Who was William Jennings Bryan? William McKinley? What led to the Populist Party decline?

16. The Wizard of Oz Published by Frank Baum in 1900 Many people and economists argue it was written about the battles of the Populist Party You will now read it and decide for yourselves! As we read, pay attention and fill out the graphic organizer.