1. The Rise and Fall of the Populist Party 1867-1896

2. Farmers’ Problems:  Lower prices for crops  Farmers had no cash...went further into debt... foreclosed on mortgages  Railroads charged outrageous prices to ship crops (no regulation!)  Lower prices for crops  Farmers had no cash...went further into debt... foreclosed on mortgages  Railroads charged outrageous prices to ship crops (no regulation!)

3. Farmers’ Demands:  Regulate the railroad companies! (stop them from charging such high rates)  Make cash more available (back the dollar with silver, not gold, so dollar will be worth less)  Political demands: single term for President and Vice-President; secret ballot; popular election of Senators  To get industrial workers to support them: 8-hour workday; restrict immigration  Regulate the railroad companies! (stop them from charging such high rates)  Make cash more available (back the dollar with silver, not gold, so dollar will be worth less)  Political demands: single term for President and Vice-President; secret ballot; popular election of Senators  To get industrial workers to support them: 8-hour workday; restrict immigration

4. THE GOLD RESERVE AND TARIFF  A decline in silver prices encouraged investors to trade their silver dollars for gold dollars.  The gold reserve feel to a dangerously low level.  Pres. Cleveland saw no alternative but to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890.  This failed to stop the gold drain.  A decline in silver prices encouraged investors to trade their silver dollars for gold dollars.  The gold reserve feel to a dangerously low level.  Pres. Cleveland saw no alternative but to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890.  This failed to stop the gold drain.

5. Different Groups Representing Farmers’ Interests  1867: The Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange)  1880s: Farmers’ Alliance and Colored Farmers’ National Alliance  1892: Birth of the Populist, or People’s Party  1867: The Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange)  1880s: Farmers’ Alliance and Colored Farmers’ National Alliance  1892: Birth of the Populist, or People’s Party

6. 1892 Presidential Election: Populist Candidate won over a million votes!

7. 1896 Election  Populists decide to improve their chances by supporting a Democratic candidate: William Jennings Bryan, who agreed to support the Silver-backed dollar.

8. 1896 Presidential Election: Bryan loses but carries most of the South and West

9. THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ AND THE ELECTION OF 1896

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

11. THE WIZARD OF OZ  The Wizard of Oz, who remains invisible, represents President William McKinley.

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

13. THE WIZARD OF OZ  The Wicked Witches of the East and West represent oppressive industrialists and mine owners.

14. 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.