Populists and Progressives Teacher Resources

Students role play as Populist leaders and "advise" a group of newly founded Progressives about one of a specific list of topics. Then the Progressive personas speak about the success of their own reform efforts over the past decade.

Young scholars study the Gilded Age in American History. They present a speech demonstrating knowledge of the platforms of the Progressives and Populists.

Was American politics always bound to the two-party system? Learn how the two-party system developed, why third parties tend not to do so well, and all the various political parties that have emerged throughout US history. Each party is...

Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Progressive Era lesson, students examine the goals and accomplishments of the Populist Party.

Learners interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Progressive Era lesson, students examine the concerns of American citizens during the era and compare them to...

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...

Students examine the Gilded Age. In this Gilded Age lesson, students create a museum of their own showing what life was like in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Students investigate immigration, settlement and how these...

Students explore the Chautauqua movement. In this Pennsylvania history instructional activity, students use primary documents to explore what the Chautauqua was and how it made a difference in the American way of life.

Students explore historical political parties and their platforms. After studying the origins and functions of political parties, students create their own platform to address current issues. In groups, students design an ad campaign...

Ninth graders examine the origins and functions of political parties.  In this American Government lesson, 9th graders create a party platform to address political issues that are likely to arise during a national election. ...

In this social studies learning exercise, learners look for the words in the puzzle that are related to the theme of the word search. Spelling skills are worked on.

Students role-play a trial regarding the taking of family property for a new water purification plant. Among the roles are the judge, attorneys, witnesses, plaintiff, mayor, and jury members. Once both sides present their case, the...

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.

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...

This biography of Georgian Thomas Edward Watson includes information about his vice-presdential campaign with his running mate, William Jennings Bryan, and his progressive writings.

[Free Registration/Login Required] A great look at the Progressive Era, the issues dealt with at that time, and the legistlation passed to help alleviate social ills. Read about the great range of personalities and viewpoints that drove...

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...

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.

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...

Progressivism got a push from the Populist movement, a reaction to the forgettable presidents and laissez-faire government in the Gilded Age. Find a listing of authors who wrote about progressive ideas, and see what influence populism...

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...

Important events in the history of the Populist and Progressive movements between 1869 and 1921.

Take a look at popular literary themes that are reflected in the political cartoons of 1896, the year in which William Jennings Bryant challenged William McKinley for the presidency.

An explanation of the role of third parties, their history, and some notable third party candidates can be found in this Wikipedia article.