Unit 2: The Frontier

Lesson 13: The Populist Movement

SWBAT identify the goals of the Populist Party and

determine the effect they would have on the lives of farmers in the Great Plains.

Lesson Objective

Populist A supporter of the rights and power of the

people

Native Americans Answer these questions based upon

observations of the picture. What are the responsibilities of the President? How might the President not be able to appeal

to every issue important to the people?

Discussion Why isn’t every president considered a

Populist? Which national issues might come before the interests of the people?

Word of the Day/Initial Activity

• New technology made it easier to plant and harvest large crops with less help.

• Transcontinental RR provided an efficient method to transport crops to markets in the East.

• Farmers relied on the sale of their harvest to survive until the next harvest.

• New technology leads to overproduction, therefore lower prices (helps consumer, hurts farmer)

Agricultural Economy

The Grange, 1867 Realized RR rates and practices were

negatively affecting their livelihoods Successful in getting states to limit the

power of the railroads The Populist Party, 1891

Graduated income tax Direct election of senators *Gov’t ownership of RR, telephones,

telegraphs 8 hour workday Election of 1896- populist candidates

win

The Grange

The Populist Platform 1892 “Transportation being a means of exchange and a public necessity,

the government should own and operate the railroads in the interest of the people.”

What is the main idea here?

1 minute to write down a response to this question:Why might the government be resistant to this part of the Populist Platform?

Turn & Talk: 30 seconds per partner Share Out

Populist Party: Turn & Talk

Focus Question: How did the Grange movement develop as a political activist group?

Read The Populist Party Answer the close reading questions at the conclusion of

your reading. Remember to review the questions first before beginning

your reading!

Share Out

Activity: Close Reading

Exit TicketWhy did Great Plains Farmers create a political party to represent their rights?

Parking Lot Develop one critical thinking question from today’s

mini-lesson or activity. Write onto post-it and place onto parking lot. You will

address these questions as a class during the initial-activity each following day.

Summary