ProgressivismProgressivism

Roots of the ProgressivesRoots of the Progressives

Greenback Labor Party- anti-Greenback Labor Party- anti-monopoly, pro-paper currency, pro monopoly, pro-paper currency, pro unionunion

Populists- roots among poor white Populists- roots among poor white cotton farmers (South) and wheat cotton farmers (South) and wheat farmers (Mid-West), anti industryfarmers (Mid-West), anti industry

Mainstreamed by William Jennings Mainstreamed by William Jennings Bryan in 1896Bryan in 1896

Noted ProgressivesNoted ProgressivesBob LaFolletteBob LaFollette

Wisconsin Senator Wisconsin Senator (self-appointed)(self-appointed)

Often listed as one Often listed as one of the top US of the top US Senators of all Senators of all time (tied with time (tied with Henry Clay) for his Henry Clay) for his work in work in ProgressivismProgressivism

Tom WatsonTom Watson Georgia SenatorGeorgia Senator Populist in naturePopulist in nature Thought to have Thought to have

been in line to run been in line to run with WJ Bryan in with WJ Bryan in 1896, but failed1896, but failed

Led to the end of Led to the end of Populism, which Populism, which dissolved into dissolved into ProgressivismProgressivism

Supported the KKKSupported the KKK

Charles Evans HughesCharles Evans Hughes

New York New York RepublicanRepublican Governor of NYGovernor of NY As Gov, he exposed As Gov, he exposed

malpractices in the malpractices in the gas and insurance gas and insurance industriesindustries

The Wizard of OZ and The Wizard of OZ and PopulismPopulism

Dorothy = the American people: plucky, good Dorothy = the American people: plucky, good natured, naive.natured, naive.

Toto = the Prohibition (Temperance) party. Toto = the Prohibition (Temperance) party. Favored the bimetallic standard but like any fringe Favored the bimetallic standard but like any fringe group often pulled in the wrong direction. So they group often pulled in the wrong direction. So they got to be a dog. (Toto is a play on "teetotalers.")got to be a dog. (Toto is a play on "teetotalers.")

Oz = the almighty ounce (oz) of gold.Oz = the almighty ounce (oz) of gold. The yellow brick road = paved with gold bricks, The yellow brick road = paved with gold bricks,

leads to nowhere.leads to nowhere. Dorothy's silver slippers = originally the property Dorothy's silver slippers = originally the property

of the Wicked Witch of the East, until Dorothy of the Wicked Witch of the East, until Dorothy drops the house on the witch. Walking on the drops the house on the witch. Walking on the yellow brick road with the silver slippers yellow brick road with the silver slippers represented bimetalism.represented bimetalism.

The Munchkins = subjects of the eastern The Munchkins = subjects of the eastern banking and industrial interests, i.e., eastern banking and industrial interests, i.e., eastern workers who didn't vote for Bryan.workers who didn't vote for Bryan.

The Scarecrow = western farmers. They were The Scarecrow = western farmers. They were Populists.Populists.

The Tin Woodsman = eastern workers. The Tin Woodsman = eastern workers. Populist mythology always looked to this Populist mythology always looked to this group for support, but never actually found it group for support, but never actually found it in reality. Baum realized this (most Populists in reality. Baum realized this (most Populists didn't) and shows the Tinman as a victim of didn't) and shows the Tinman as a victim of mechanization. He's so dehumanized he mechanization. He's so dehumanized he doesn't have a heart.doesn't have a heart.

The Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan.The Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan. The Emerald City = Washington D.C. The The Emerald City = Washington D.C. The

color is suggestive of paper greenbacks.color is suggestive of paper greenbacks. The Wizard = President McKinley, but The Wizard = President McKinley, but

sometimes his advisor, Marcus Alonzo Hanna.sometimes his advisor, Marcus Alonzo Hanna.

The Good Witch of the North = New The Good Witch of the North = New England, a populist stronghold.England, a populist stronghold.

The Good Witch of the South = the South, The Good Witch of the South = the South, another populist stronghold.another populist stronghold.

The Wicked Witch of the East = Eastern The Wicked Witch of the East = Eastern banking and industrial interests. She is banking and industrial interests. She is killed by Dorothy's falling house because killed by Dorothy's falling house because the Populists expected that the eastern the Populists expected that the eastern industrial workers would vote Populist, industrial workers would vote Populist, but this never really happened.but this never really happened.

The Wicked Witch of the West = the West The Wicked Witch of the West = the West was where the Populists were strongest. was where the Populists were strongest. The only reason why the West gets a The only reason why the West gets a wicked witch is a) you need two bad wicked witch is a) you need two bad guys to balance the two good guys, and guys to balance the two good guys, and especially, b) William McKinley was especially, b) William McKinley was from Ohio, then thought of as a western from Ohio, then thought of as a western state. (I guess.) The wicked witch is state. (I guess.) The wicked witch is sometimes identified directly with sometimes identified directly with President McKinley.President McKinley.