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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Growth of Populism

For Students 5th - 8th
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.
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Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: Farmers' Alliance

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: The Gilded Age: The Populists

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains the history of the Populist movement, its growth into a political party, and its later dissolution. Includes questions for students at end.
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Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Power: Taming the Octopus: The Populist Party Platform, 1892

For Students 9th - 10th
The 1892 platform of the Populist Party that argued for significant changes to improve the economic condition of farmers and industrial workers. Included are discussion questions and a link to the exact wording of the platform.
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Website
Other

Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Knights of Labor

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: The Populist Movement

For Students 9th - 10th
This primary source set highlights prominent Populists, propaganda from political campaigns, and political arguments of the movement.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: Weaver, James Baird

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress provides a brief biographical sketch of Weaver, who was the presidential candidate of the Greenback Party in 1880.
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Article
University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska Lincoln: Editing Populism: The Omaha Platform of 1892

For Students 9th - 10th
A section of an article on Populism. It looks at the Omaha Platform of 1892, which was adopted by the Populist Party at its founding convention. George H. Gibson's views on Populism are discussed - he was editor of Wealth Makers, a...
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Unknown Type
History Teacher

Historyteacher.net: Populism: Quiz (1)

For Students 9th - 10th
This 10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and covers populism in the late 1800s.
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Unknown Type
History Teacher

Historyteacher.net: Populism: Quiz (2)

For Students 9th - 10th
This 10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and covers the Populist movement.
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Handout
Other

Fieldston School United States History Survey: Populism Progressivism Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
Important events in the history of the Populist and Progressive movements between 1869 and 1921.
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Handout
University of North Carolina

The Thomas E. Watson Papers: About Watson

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Thomas E. Watson, who was the vice-presidential nominee for the Populist Party in 1896.
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Handout
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Major Concerns of the Populists

For Students 9th - 10th
Outline of the major issues at the heart of the Populist movement, as well as a history of the movement.
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Black Populism

For Students 9th - 10th
This article contains interesting facts and a timeline about the history of Black Populism, the cotton farmers of the south, and the Populist Party.
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Graphic
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Joins the Battle: Cartoon, Houston Daily Post, March 30, 1896

For Students 9th - 10th
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...