1. RISE OF POPULISM

2. TODAY’S OBJECTIVES After today’s lesson, students will be able to… Describe the main issues that led to the rise of the Populist Party and their platform Essential Skills: Demonstrate an understanding of concepts

3. GROUP DOCUMENTS Take some time to read your document with your group and answer the questions Be prepared to share your answers with your classmates and what your document was about

4. FARMERS UNITE In the late 1800’s a vicious economic cycle was especially harmful to farmers Prices for their products was falling while the cost of seeds and tools was increasing Banks were foreclosing on farms and loans went unpaid Railroads were charging excessive rates for transporting farm goods to markets

5. FARMERS DEMAND CHEAPER MONEY After the Civil War, the economy was in a Deflationary period where there was relatively little money in circulation Deflation forced prices down which helped consumers but hurt the farmers prices for their products also decreased Deflation also required farmers to repay loans with dollars worth more than the dollars borrowed

6. DECREASING WHEAT PRICES YEARBUSHELS GROWN (millions) PRICES PER BUSHEL (dollars) 1866170$2.06 1875254$1.04 1880502$0.92 1885400$0.77 1890449$0.84 1895542$0.51 1900599$0.62

7. WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ AND THE ELECTION OF 1896

8. THE WIZARD OF OZ The Emerald City, where everything is colored green represents Washington, D.C.

9. THE WIZARD OF OZ The Wizard of Oz, who remains invisible, represents President William McKinley, a politician that can change forms in the book and who tricked the citizens of Oz into believing he is all powerful.

10. THE WIZARD OF OZ The only way to get to the Emerald is via a Yellow Brick Road, the color of gold bricks.

11. THE WIZARD OF OZ The Wicked Witches East: Wall Street bankersin NY, led by JP Morgan West: Represents mine owners and western bankers

12. THE WIZARD OF OZ In the much-beloved film version made in the 1930s, Dorothy, the all- American girl from the heartland of Kansas, wears ruby slippers But in the book, her slippers are silver, supposedly representing the money preferred by ordinary people

13. THE WIZARD OF OZ Scarecrow – farmers, agricultural workers, ignorant of many city things but honest and able to understand things with little education. A strong supporter of Dorothy (Populism)

14. THE WIZARD OF OZ The Tin Man – industrial workers, a woodchopper whose entire body has been replaced with metal parts, thus dehumanized by machinery and in need of money (oil).

15. THE WIZARD OF OZ Cowardly Lion – William Jennings Bryan, a famous politician and Populist Presidential candidate in 1896 and 1900 for monetary reform and a terrific orator (roar). Bryan was attacked as being somewhat cowardly for not supporting the US war with Spain. As a Populist Presidential candidate he sought to go to the capitol city