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The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz . “A Populist Parable”. Late 1800’s. period of rapid growth in westward expansion industrialization and the growth of big business immigration and the growth of urban centers. The Mid West. The Setting. The Great Plains rapid growth good rainfall railroads move crops

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The Wizard of Oz

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  1. The Wizard of Oz “A Populist Parable”

  2. Late 1800’s • period of rapid growth in westward expansion • industrialization and the growth of big business • immigration and the growth of urban centers The Mid West

  3. The Setting • The Great Plains • rapid growth • good rainfall • railroads move crops • land was cheap The Great Plains

  4. Trouble begins • severe drought • overproduction • farmers in debt • blame the railroads (monopolies) • natural disaster occurred

  5. Farmers do not receive help • party leaders at state level do not want to get involved

  6. A Political Organization is formed • Farmers Alliance (rose from the Grange) • began as a pressure group • attacked the monopolies • had surprising success at local polls • Farmers’ Alliance + the Knights of Labor = The Populist Party (originally the People's Party)

  7. The Populist Party • members were people in rural areas • strong support in the South and the West • some support in the North

  8. What they wanted Reforms in the area of… • Land • Cheaper transportation • Finances

  9. Their demands • Land • Believed is for the people/not be monopolies • All land for settler use only • Transportation • a means of exchange and a public necessity • Owned and operated by the government • Finances • called for the increase in circulation of money • “free silver” bimetallism • graduated income tax • And for the working man • eight hour work day

  10. Their Power • Ran James Weaver (IA) for president in the 1892 election • join with the Democratic party in election of 1896 • supported William Jennings Bryan for president nomination • party dies out after election of 1896 Historical cartoon of Populist Party as a snake with William Jennings Bryan's head swallowing donkey of the Democratic Party(Library of Congress)

  11. “Cross of Gold” speech • "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold." July 9, 1896, at the Democratic National Convention, Chicago

  12. Legacy • goals of reform did not die out • reappears during the Progressive Era

  13. A Populist Parable “the Wizard of Oz” • What is the symbolism?

  14. Kansas

  15. SILVER QUESTION • FARMERS DEMAND GOVT COIN SILVER MONEY TO INFLATE CURRENCY & RAISE FARM PRICES

  16. LAND OF OZ • WASHINGTON, DC • “MAGIC OASIS” • (OZ = OUNCE OF GOLD • GOLD ROAD LEADS TO OZ

  17. FARM • DEADLY ENVIRONMENT • NATURE IMPERSONAL • BLEAK, LONELY, ISOLATED

  18. TORNADO • POPULISM ROARING IN FROM WEST

  19. DOROTHY • EVERYMAN • LEVELHEADED, HUMAN, GOOD • THINKS OF OTHERS

  20. SCARECROW • FARMERS • IGNORANT • IRRATIONAL • MUDDLE-HEADED

  21. TIN WOODSMAN • LABOR BECOMING MACHINES • LOST MOST HUMAN SENTIMENT: LOVE

  22. COWARDLY LION • WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN • “MORE BARK THAN BITE”

  23. WIZARD • PRESIDENTS GRANT TO McKINLEY • EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE

  24. WICKED WITCH OF EAST • EASTERN FINANCIAL ECONOMIC INTERESTS • AND THEIR GOLD STANDARD POLTICAL ALLIES • (MAIN TARGET OF POPULIST VENOM)

  25. WICKED WITCH OF WEST • RAILROAD BARONS • BAD FORCES OF NATURE

  26. GOOD WITCH OF NORTH • REPRESENTS THE ELECTORATE OF THE UPPER MID-WEST (WHERE POPULISM GAINED GREAT SUPPORT)

  27. GOOD WITCH OF THE SOUTH THE GOOD WITCH, WHO UNLIKE HER NORTHERN COUNTERPART, UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SILVER SHOES

  28. MUNCHKINS GENERAL PUBLIC: CHILDLIKE, NAÏVE ENLSAVED BY WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST

  29. WINGED MONKEYS • INDIANS • GOOD OR BAD DEPENDS UPON WHOSE INFLUENCE

  30. YELLOW WINKIES • PHILLIPINE PEOPLE • ASIAN IMMIGRANTS

  31. WATER (“I’M MELTING!”) • WATER ENDS HER EVIL REIGN • PARCHED LANDS ARE WATERED, FARMERS ARE FREED

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