City University of New York
African Americans and the Populist Movement
Why did the Populist Party fail to ally itself with African American farmers? To answer this essential question, class members investigate the Populist Era (188-1900) and read an article written by Tom Watson, a Populist leader.
Curated OER
Populism and Governor Lewelling
Seventh graders investigate the impact of the Populist Party. In this Kansas history lesson, 7th graders examine historical documents that enable them to find out what the Populist Party stood for and how Governor Lewelling dealt with...
Curated OER
Progression of Political Movements
Students examine the various political parties throughout history. In groups, they are given documents identifying the platforms of the parties in the 1868 election. To end the lesson, they share their information with the class and...
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Populist Party
Read about the rise of the Populist Party in Georgia, as a reflection of its importance in national politics in in the elections of 1892 and 1896.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Populist Party
Read about how "the Populists challenged white supremacy by forming coalitions between black and white farmers who shared a common cause." Part of a larger website called "Jim Crow Stories", this brief article paints the Populist Party...
Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Populist Party
The Populist Party was one of the more successful third parties, at least in state politics. Read about its platform on the national and state levels in the 1890s.
Nebraska Studies
Nebraska Studies: Roots of Progressivism
A lengthy discussion of Populism and the Populist Party, especially in Nebraska. Read about the Populist Party platform, issues, candidates, and how populism formed the roots of the progressivism in the early 20th century.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Growth of Populism
Western farmers organized in an attempt to have their issues heard politically. Read about the various farmers' organizations which developed into the idea of populism and the formation of the Populist Party.
Northern Illinois University
Illinois in the Gilded Age: 1896: The Cross of Gold
This is a very informative look at the politics involved in the campaign of 1896 where one of the main issues was the conflict between the gold standard and free silver. Read about the results of the election and the defeat of Populist...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: A Biography of America: The Elections of 1896 1900
Read about all the factions involved in the campaign and election of 1896 and see how the Democratic Party was split, which resulted in the election of Republican William McKinley. The last part of this essay talks about the campaign of...
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Grover Cleveland: Campaigns and Elections
Scroll through this accounting of the presidential campaigns and elections in which Grover Cleveland participated to find the election of 1892. After losing the presidency in 1888, Cleveland won the election. Read about the issues in the...
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: The Progressive Era: 1896 1920
A comprehensive and detailed look at the changing political, social and economic landscape during the Progressive Era, 1896-1920. Readers will find well-organized links to readings, documents and external sources.
Harp Week
Harp Week: The Presidential Elections: 1896 Mc Kinley v. Bryan
A three-page look at the campaign and election of 1896 in which William McKinley, the Republican candidate, ran against Wiliam Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate. Read about the nominating conventions, the platforms, and the...
Other
Emazine: The "Gilded Age" in the United States
This article from a wider history of the world focuses on presidential administrations from Benjamin Harrison in 1890 through the Wilson administration. Read about the domestic policies and foreign affairs from 1890-1920.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Joins the Battle: Cartoon, Houston Daily Post, March 30, 1896
Here is a political cartoon showing showing the split between those who favored the gold standard and those favoring the silver standard, and how the Populist Party took advantage of that split. Learn what this means by taking a look at...
Other
Socialist Worker: The Promise and Failure of Populism
Read how the Populist struggle brought together Blacks with poor whites in a challenge against the Southern elite in the 1890s. [April 2012]
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: William Mc Kinley: The Campaign and Election of 1896
Read about the campaign of 1896 in which William McKinley represented the Republican Party and William Jennings Bryan the Democratic Party. One big issue was the contrast between the use of the gold standard as opppsed to free silver.
Other
Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Knights of Labor
Read about the impact of the Knights of Labor on labor issues in Arkansas. Find out about the strikes they participated in for various work groups, and read about their political activity in a time of third-party elections.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Movement Comes of Age: e.l. Dohoney to Erminia Folsom, Dec 20, 1914
Read about E.L. Dahoney, a prohibitionist in favor of women's suffrage, and read a letter in which he ties together the two causes he supported.
Harp Week
Harp Week: The Cleveland Record
Grover Cleveland's second term in office was problematic, which affected the election of 1896. Read about the economic depression of 1893, the labor unrest, Coxey's army, and controversial Supreme Court decisions that were handed down...
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Farmers' Alliance
The Farmers' Alliance advocated many progressive ideas. Read about these ideas and the ways the alliance fostered co-op programs for farmers. This article focuses on the Farmers' Alliance groups in Georgia, but there is also much...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Progressivsim Sweeps the Nation
The government that supported laissez-faire policies and Social Darwinism was finally considered corrupt and immoral. Read about the ideas of the Progressive Era and see how these ideas were put into activist government policy.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Election of 1896
Read about the election of 1896 which had one candidate representing two political parties, and the other candidate who did not campaign. See what people supported the Democratic candidate and why. Find out who was elected and who...
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Progressive Era Politics
Read this overview of the Progressive Era to find out about the economic, political, and philosophical conditions of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that led to changes in working conditions, reforms in...