1. The Great West & Gilded Age
American History II - Unit 1
Ms. Brown

2. Review For what reasons did Americans want to move west?
New economic opportunities (land ownership, farming, cattle, gold/mining)
Define assimilation.
A minority group’s adoption of the cultural beliefs of the dominant culture.
What is the significance of the Battle of Wounded Knee?
Marked the end of large scale conflicts with NAs
What invention is said to have “tamed the west?”
Barbed wire – could easily divide up land plots
Which federal law gave 160 acres to any citizen over 21 who was the head of the household?
Homestead Act (1862)
For what reasons were farmers in debt by the late 1800s?
Bad weather, expensive machinery, falling wheat prices, increased railroad shipping costs, high interest rates on loans

3. 1.2 – Farmers & Populism

4. Farmers Unite: Socially
1867 – The Grange founded
Educated farmers on the best farming techniques and practices
Lobbied fed gov’t to regulate the railroads’ shipping rates
Farmers’ Alliances
Educate farmers and other people about banks’ unfair high interest rates and unjust railroad practices

5. Farmers Unite: Politically
Populism – movement of the common people
The Populist Party (1892)
AKA The People’s Party
Became the political voice of the farmer (common people)
Forms some of the foundation of the modern Democratic party – the gov’t is responsible for reforming injustices
Omaha Platform (Populist goals):
Increase money in circulation  raise prices
Graduated income tax
Government ownership of railroads to fight high prices

6. Early Success of the Populists
In elections during 1892, the Populist party did well
3 governors, 5 senators, 10 in Congress

7. Panic of 1893 Railroad industry expanded too quickly to make money.
Farmer debt  can’t pay shipping costs
Small gold supply in the fed reserve.
1893 – Railroad companies started going bankrupt  stocks fell  people try to exchange paper money for gold  banks collapse  loss of savings and jobs.

8. Silver or Gold? Gold Bugs Silverites
Gold standard – using only gold to back currency
$ more valuable
Less ppl have $
Prices decrease
What did they want?
Bimetallism – using both gold and silver to back currency
More $ in circulation
More ppl have $
Prices increase
Republicans – POTUS Cleveland
Industrialized north
Bankers, businessmen
Who?
Democrats and Populists
Agriculturally based south and west
Farmers and laborers
Loans would be repaid in stable $.
Why?
Products would be sold at high prices.
DEFLATION – prices fall, value of $ increases, fewer ppl have money.
Effects?
INFLATION – prices rise, value of money decreases, more people have money.

9. Election of 1896 Republicans – William McKinley
Democrats and Populists – William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
Nebraskan congressman
Strong debating and speech skills
Supported the “common man”

10. Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” Speech
Bryan’s impassioned speech supporting bimetallism
Democratic national convention
“You shall not press down upon this brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!”

11. Election of 1896 - Results 25th POTUS = McKinley
Bimetalism did not appeal to urban workers who would suffer from higher prices
Populist party fell apart

12. Legacy of the Populists
The downtrodden could organize and have a political impact
Catalyst for reform movements in the gov’t (politically and economically)
“Populism in 10 Minutes”

13. Wizard of Oz and Populism
Gold Standard
Yellow Brick Road
Farmers
Scarecrow
Bryan
(Cowardly) Lion
Industrialization
Tin Man
Silver standard/Bimetalism
Dorothy’s Slippers, ( "Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert.....If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country.“)
Common Americans, farmers
Dorothy
Politicians
Wizard
Plains Indians
Winged Monkeys
Bankers
Wicked Witch of the East:
Nature
Wicked Witch of the West (water kills, farmers need water)
Middle class and below
Munchkins, Little people of society , formed in gilds
Washington DC
Emerald City
Change
Tornado
Wizard of Oz and Populism
Allegory – characters or events represent or symbolize ideas and concepts.
Ex: Women in political cartoons or historical images are used to represent liberty, democracy, etc.
Article on Wizard of Oz and Populism
Wizard of Oz “Trailer”