RISE OF POPULISM TODAYS OBJECTIVES After todays lesson

RISE OF POPULISM

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

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

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

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

DECREASING WHEAT PRICES YEAR BUSHELS GROWN (millions) PRICES PER BUSHEL (dollars) 1866 170 $2. 06 1875 254 $1. 04 1880 502 $0. 92 1885 400 $0. 77 1890 449 $0. 84 1895 542 $0. 51 1900 599 $0. 62

WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ AND THE ELECTION OF 1896

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

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

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

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

THE WIZARD OF OZ • In the much-beloved film version made in the 1930 s, 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

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)

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).

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