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Unit Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Yearning to Breathe Free Webisode 10

For Students 9th - 10th
This wonderful website, Freedom, a History of US, based on the series by Joy Hakim, presents the tenth webisode, Yearning to be Breathe Free. Through text, photographs, and audio segments you can get a good picture of the state of...
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Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: Thomas E. Watson

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Tom Watson, a Georgia reformer and congressman, who advocated the ideas of the Farmers' Alliance and eventually became a Populist Party leader. Includes picture.
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Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: u.s. History: The Populist Revolt

For Students 11th
Looks at the unrest of farmers in the 1890s that led to the development of a new populist party called the People's Party. Explains the debate that raged around whether to adopt a gold or a silver standard, examines the election of 1896,...
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Handout
Nebraska Studies

Nebraska Studies: Roots of Progressivism

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Politics in Gilded Age 1870 1900: Farmers' Revolt in the Populist Era

For Students 11th - 12th
Learn about the development of the farmers' protest movement in the 19th century, and how it evolved into a political movement.
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Website
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: Mary E. Lease

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
1896, A Website of Political Cartoons is an excellent site that includes a detailed biography and historical accounts from that time. Provides links to related subjects.
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Lesson Plan
Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Grade 8 Social Studies Units

For Teachers 8th
A grade 8 scope and sequence document with six complete units.
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Website
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: The Gilded and the Gritty: America, 1870 1912

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Ninety-four primary sources-historical documents, literary texts, and visual images-that explore the challenges, opportunity, and turmoil of late-nineteenth-century America. They examine the economic expansion in an America re-united...
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Progress, the Gilded and the Gritty: America, 1870 1912

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Eighteen primary sources-historical documents, literary texts, and visual images-that explore the industrial, racial, and technological progress of the late-nineteenth century.
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Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: The Omaha Platform: Launching the Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
This History Matters website provides the Populist Party platform, as well as a brief write-up introducing this primary resource, which marked the formation of a new -- though short lived -- political party.
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Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Populists Advocate Easy Money

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource outlines the economic policies advocated by the Populists, including a demand for the unlimited coinage of silver.
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Handout
Digital History

Digital History: Populism

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what populism is and its history within the context of American politics.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Agrarian Distress and the Rise of Populism

For Students 9th - 10th
Article outlines the rise of the Populist Movement in the U.S. as a result of a declining economy, agrarian distress and dissatisfaction with American politics in late 19th Century.
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Website
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: Sectional Interests

For Students 9th - 10th
Website explores "sectionalism" and the political cartoons associated with the 1896 presidential election. Also, includes quotes from publications around the country.
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Handout
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: The Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
This great resource from 1896, A Website of Political Cartoons from Vassar College discusses "The Rise of Populism" to "The End of Populism--or Not?"
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Handout
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: Populist Party Platform

For Students 9th - 10th
This 1896, Website of Political Cartoons page presents the People's (Populist) Party platform of 1896. The platform discusses the finances, railroads and telegraphs, the public lands, the referendum, the territories, public salaries,...
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Website
Vassar College

Vassar: 1896: The Presidential Campaign: Cartoons and Commentary

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive site from the Vassar College on the 1896 presidential election includes links to cartoons, parties and platforms, leaders, campaign themes, and special features.
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Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
History Tools

History Tools: Sen. William Peffer, the Mission of the Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
Written by Senator William Peffer, a member of the Populist party, this essay clearly states the goals and beliefs of the Populist Party.
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Website
Other

U.s. History Timeline: 1865 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
A thumbnail look at the many things occurring in the United States in the last half half of the 19th century. The topics covered are Gilded Age Politics, the "New Imperialism," Industrial America, Growth of Labor, Urbanization,...
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Article
Other

Socialist Worker: The Promise and Failure of Populism

For Students 9th - 10th
Read how the Populist struggle brought together Blacks with poor whites in a challenge against the Southern elite in the 1890s. [April 2012]
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Article
Kansas Historical Society

Kansas Conflict: Populist Versus Railroader in the 1890s

For Students 9th - 10th
Good description of the conflict between the populists and the railroad owners during the 1890s. (Published 1997)
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Primary
Missouri State University

Southwest Missouri State University: Documents on the Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides links to several documents related to the Populist Party, including: National People's Party Platform, The Negro Question in the South, The Tramp Circular, The "Cross of Gold" Speech, What's the Matter with Kansas, Another...
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Primary
Other

The Crusade of 1890

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll down to find a detailed story of Mary Elizabeth Lease. One of her speeches is quoted at length.