In the second leg of the journey to Jekyll Island and the secret 1910 meeting that laid the groundwork for the Federal Reserve System, History for Cocktail Parties hosts James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy dive into the economic chaos triggered by the 1890 Silver Purchase Act and the devastating Panic of 1893. This episode uncovers how debates over gold and silver shaped America’s monetary system, fueled the rise of the Populist Party, and inspired one of the most enduring allegories in American culture: The Wizard of Oz. With political unrest, economic collapse, and symbolism hiding in plain sight, the road to Jekyll gets even more colorful.