In this social studies and language arts interdisciplinary unit for 8th or 11th grade, students are required to take on the persona of a Populist or a Progressive. The unit is designed to create a dialogue between two similar movements in late 19th and early 20th century U.S. history. Students work in small groups to research and present their speeches and complete a brief bibliography of their figure. Participants representing the Populists give advice to Progressive representatives on areas including women's rights, political and social reforms, labor issues, foreign policy, and immigration. The student guide provides detailed instructions and contains a list of resources, including Web sites. The teacher's guide ties the lesson to California state standards and provides suggestions on how to conduct and evaluate the activities. (RJC)