08/27 Bellringer 5+ sentenceshttp://ghhsah2.com/bellringers

Between 1864 and 1890, the United States Army and Native American tribes battled for control of the Great Plains. What do you think was the primary cause of the conflict between these two groups?

Review: Indian Wars chart

Between 1880-1900, western farmers faced major problems

Crop prices fell due to over-production by

farmers

Banks charged high interest rates on mortgages and

foreclosed on farmers

Railroads charged high

rates for shipping crops

These problems convinced western farmers to organize Groups like the Grangers and the

Farmers’ Alliance demanded government regulation of railroads & banks

Both groups were too small

to be much good

In 1890, the farmer groups joined together to form a new political party called the Populist Party

They wanted pro-agriculture laws passed and an end to

laissez-faire business policies (regulation of banks and the

railroad)They wanted a national,

graduated income taxThey wanted a Constitutional amendment to allow citizens

to directly elect SenatorsThey wanted the dollar to be valued on bimetallism (gold

and silver)

What is meant by “bimetallism”?

From 1890 to 1896, the Populist Party was

an influential 3rd party and challenged the Democratic

and Republican Parties

In the 1896 presidential election, bimetallism was the most important issue

The Populist candidate William Jennings Bryan supported bimetallism

Republican William McKinley supported the gold standard

During the election, William Jennings Bryan gave his dramatic “Cross of Gold” speech that explained the

disastrous effects of the gold standard on the working class in America

Despite Bryan’s success among farmers in the

West, McKinley won the election

As president, McKinley returned to the gold standard & killed the

bimetallism movement

After the election of 1896, the Populist Party died……but Populist ideas such as the income tax,

direct election of Senators, & regulation of railroads will be enacted in the Progressive Era (1890-1920)

The Wizard of Oz – Is there more to the story?

•Parody – humorous or satirical imitation•Allegory – a parable (story told to illustrate a moral

truth) in which the main characters are animals or mystical people/creatures that symbolically represent real life people and events

•1900 – Frank Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz

What did the Populist Party Want?• In small groups of 3-4, design a political campaign poster

that outlines the Populist platform (information can be found in the textbook on page 427 - Chapter 13, Section 3)• Identify the economic and political changes the Populist

supported.•Choose 2 economic changes and 2 political changes to

illustrate on the political campaign poster.