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Populism and the unmasking of, The Wizard of Oz

Populism and the unmasking of, The Wizard of Oz. Populism and The Wizard of Oz. Background Information.

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Populism and the unmasking of, The Wizard of Oz

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  1. Populism and the unmasking of, The Wizard of Oz

  2. Populism and The Wizard of Oz

  3. Background Information • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was not intended to be an innocent fairy tale. Author, L. Frank Baum, a reform-minded Democrat who supported William Jennings Bryan's pro-silver candidacy, wrote the book as a parable of the Populists, an allegory of their failed efforts to reform the nation in 1896. However, Frank Baum never allowed the consistency of the allegory to take precedence over the theme of youthful entertainment.

  4. Populism • A political movement that started in the West. • Wanted to give more power to the common people and curb the power of the elite, industrialists, bankers and Washington politicians back East. • Wanted to end corruption in politics, give citizens more voting power and fix working conditions. • Also, wanted unlimited coinage of silver so crops prices would increase and farmers could pay off their debts. This would also take power away from the bankers in the east who controlled the supply of gold. • Eventually evolved into Progressivism.

  5. Hidden Representations • Dorothy represents the common peoplefrom Kansas who were hit the hardest by drought, were caught in the whirlwind (Tornado) of Populism and were therefore its most loyal supporters.

  6. Hidden Representations • TheEmerald City represents Washington DC. The green represents the greed and envy created by money.

  7. Hidden Representations: • TheWicked Witch of the East:represented easternindustrialists and bankers. The Lollipop Kids (theMunchkins) represent child labor during the Gilded Age.

  8. Hidden Representations • TheYellow Brick Road, with all its dangers, represented the gold standard.

  9. Hidden Representations • Dorothy'ssilver/ruby slippers (Judy Garland's were ruby red, but in the book, Baum made them silver) represented the, “the free and unlimited coinage of silver”. =

  10. Hidden Representations • TheWicked Witch of The West represents the harsh nature of the west as well as the evil and corrupt railroad ownersand the control they had over the populist supporters.

  11. Hidden Representations: • The Scarecrowrepresented the brainless and naive western farmer.

  12. Hidden Representations: • The Tin-manrepresented the dehumanized or heartless industrial worker.

  13. Hidden Representations: • The Cowardly Lionwas William Jennings Bryan, the Populist presidential candidate in 1896.

  14. Hidden Representations • TheWizard of Oz represents President William McKinley who tried to great and powerful, but turned out to be a fake. =

  15. Hidden Representations • Dorothy'sdogToto represents the Teetotalers (prohibitionists) who loyally followed Populists while promoting temperance (not drinking). =

  16. Hidden Representations • The Flying Monkeysrepresent the enslaved Native Americans who were forced from their homeland and onto the reservations. =

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