1. The Rise & Fall of Populism

2. Populist Party Platform
Formed in 1892
Lift the burden of debt from farmers (increase money supply both silver & gold coinage)
Secret ballot to end voter fraud
Eight hour work day
Restrictions on immigration

3. Panic of 1893 Six major railroads go bankrupt
Paper money is traded in for gold
Money pulled out of Wall Street to buy gold
15,000 businesses & 500 banks collapse
One fifth of the workforce unemployed
Issue became which metal would be the basis of the nation’s monetary system

4. Gold Bugs vs. Silverites
Gold Bugs (Republicans Mckinley)
Silverites (Populists-William Jennings Bryan)
Who They Were
bankers & business men
Farmers & laborers
What They Wanted
Gold standard & less $$ in circulation
Bimetallism
More money in circ.
Why
Loans would be repaid in stable money
Products sold at higher prices
Effects
DEFLATION
Prices fall
Value of $$ increases
Fewer people have $$
INFLATION
Prices rise
Value of $$ decreases
More people have $$

5. End of Populism McKinley wins election Populism collapses
Downtrodden can organize a political movement
Populist reforms later passed.

6. Wizard of Oz Match the character or symbol from the Wizard of Oz to the populist term
Everyday American
Washington D.C.
Dehumanized worker
Big Business Bankers
Mid West Farmers
Gold
Teetotaler
Dorothy
Emerald City
Tin Man
Wicked Witch of the East
Scarecrow
Yellow Brick Road
Toto

7. Wizard of Oz cont. Munchkins- little people
Ruby Slippers- supposed to be silver
White Good Witch- Voters of the Midwest
Wicked Witch of the West- Natural Disaster
Lion- William Jennings Bryan
Wizard of Oz- Gilded Age Politicians