The Wizard of Oz:The Wizard of Oz:

A Parable About the Populist Party

A Parable About the Populist Party

The Wizard of Oz:

DorothyDorothy Dorothy represents the American people at

their best: Independent, resourceful, kindhearted, honest. She is the all-American girl from the heartland.

Mary Lease, a farmer and head of the National Farmer’s Alliance.

Lease was from Kansas, a Populist Party stronghold.

Dorothy represents the American people at their best: Independent, resourceful, kindhearted, honest. She is the all-American girl from the heartland.

Mary Lease, a farmer and head of the National Farmer’s Alliance.

Lease was from Kansas, a Populist Party stronghold.

TotoToto

Temperance and Prohibition Party Allies of the Populists in the Free Silver

Coalition, but never did much.

Temperance and Prohibition Party Allies of the Populists in the Free Silver

Coalition, but never did much.

Miss GulchMiss Gulch

Bankers collecting on farmer’s mortgages.

Miss Gulch threatens to take away Dorothy’s family farm.

Bankers collecting on farmer’s mortgages.

Miss Gulch threatens to take away Dorothy’s family farm.

Cyclone: PopulismCyclone: Populism

Populist Party came in like a tornado and lifted the farmers out of their mindset of having no power/control.

Populist Party came in like a tornado and lifted the farmers out of their mindset of having no power/control.

Munchkinland: A foreign, new world for Dorothy…

Munchkinland: A foreign, new world for Dorothy…

World of the East Coast: Industrial world.

World of the East Coast: Industrial world.

The Good Witches from the North and the South

The Good Witches from the North and the South

Northern & Southern Farmers AlliancesPopulism had a stronghold in these

regions.

Northern & Southern Farmers AlliancesPopulism had a stronghold in these

regions.

Death of the Wicked Witch of the East

Death of the Wicked Witch of the East

President Grover Cleveland.-With President Cleveland out of office, there was a

chance for the silver standard.

President Grover Cleveland.-With President Cleveland out of office, there was a

chance for the silver standard.

MunchkinsMunchkins “Little people” enslaved by the Wicked

Witch of the East, who takes regular people and makes them small. Dorothy freed them from the Wicked Witch of the East.

Munchkins also represent child labor.

“Little people” enslaved by the Wicked Witch of the East, who takes regular people and makes them small. Dorothy freed them from the Wicked Witch of the East.

Munchkins also represent child labor.

Yellow Brick RoadYellow Brick Road

The Gold Standard. The Populists believed that the gold

standard, like the yellow brick road, had many pitfalls for ordinary people.

The Gold Standard. The Populists believed that the gold

standard, like the yellow brick road, had many pitfalls for ordinary people.

SilverSilver

Bimetallism: Easing the money supply and giving Americans greater access to credit.

Salvation for farmers. Bryan used the imagery in his famous “Cross of Gold” speech.

Dorothy does not understand the power of her silver shoes so she heads down the treacherous yellow brick road (Silver and gold)

Bimetallism: Easing the money supply and giving Americans greater access to credit.

Salvation for farmers. Bryan used the imagery in his famous “Cross of Gold” speech.

Dorothy does not understand the power of her silver shoes so she heads down the treacherous yellow brick road (Silver and gold)

OZOZ

Bimetallism- 16:1 ounces (oz.) 16 oz. of silver would = 1 oz. of gold

Bimetallism- 16:1 ounces (oz.) 16 oz. of silver would = 1 oz. of gold

ScarecrowScarecrow

Shows the stupidity of farmers who were once enlightened, shrewd, and capable; but, now stood powerless in the face of industrialization.

Prejudicial notion that farmers were not smart enough to recognize their own interests and felt too intimidated to enter the realm of politics.

Shows the stupidity of farmers who were once enlightened, shrewd, and capable; but, now stood powerless in the face of industrialization.

Prejudicial notion that farmers were not smart enough to recognize their own interests and felt too intimidated to enter the realm of politics.

Tin ManTin Man

Industrial workers Dehumanized by factory labor, he had rusted solid,

symbolizing the closing of factories during the depression of 1893.

Represents the hardened worker.

Industrial workers Dehumanized by factory labor, he had rusted solid,

symbolizing the closing of factories during the depression of 1893.

Represents the hardened worker.

Cowardly LionCowardly Lion

William Jennings Bryan: Democratic nominee for president in 1896 and endorsed by the Populist Party.

When the Cowardly Lion first meets Dorothy and her companions, he strikes the Tin Man but does not make a dent in his metal body (Bryan failed to win the vote of industrial labor).

Baum revealed his skepticism about politicians through the Lion.

Bryan may have been a great orator, but despite his roar, he had no REAL power. “All bark but no bite.”

He didn’t have the power to get it done.

William Jennings Bryan: Democratic nominee for president in 1896 and endorsed by the Populist Party.

When the Cowardly Lion first meets Dorothy and her companions, he strikes the Tin Man but does not make a dent in his metal body (Bryan failed to win the vote of industrial labor).

Baum revealed his skepticism about politicians through the Lion.

Bryan may have been a great orator, but despite his roar, he had no REAL power. “All bark but no bite.”

He didn’t have the power to get it done.

We’re off to see the Wizard… We’re off to see the Wizard…

The group journeys to Oz, representing Washington DC, remniscent of the march on Washington DC that occurred in winter of 1893-94.

Jacob Coxey organized a small group of unemployed workers to march on the capital in an effort to convince the government to put more money into circulation and use those funds for public works programs, to put people back to work.

Coxey’s army was modest and easily put down. It was a unique event because they looked to the federal government to sponsor this program.

The group journeys to Oz, representing Washington DC, remniscent of the march on Washington DC that occurred in winter of 1893-94.

Jacob Coxey organized a small group of unemployed workers to march on the capital in an effort to convince the government to put more money into circulation and use those funds for public works programs, to put people back to work.

Coxey’s army was modest and easily put down. It was a unique event because they looked to the federal government to sponsor this program.

Emerald CityEmerald City Washington D.C. In the book, the Emerald City it is bland white.

People are required to wear green glasses upon entry to give the city the illusion of being emerald colored.

Represents disillusionment of the government. Greenbacks

Washington D.C. In the book, the Emerald City it is bland white.

People are required to wear green glasses upon entry to give the city the illusion of being emerald colored.

Represents disillusionment of the government. Greenbacks

The Wicked Witch of the West The Wicked Witch of the West William McKinley, who would become

President striking down Populism. William McKinley, who would become

President striking down Populism.

MonkeysMonkeys

Goldbugs Supported McKinley in the election of

1896 and kept Populism & the silver standard from gaining power.

Goldbugs Supported McKinley in the election of

1896 and kept Populism & the silver standard from gaining power.

Death of the Wicked Witch in the West

Death of the Wicked Witch in the West

In order to get what they want, the Wizard tells them to kill the Wicked Witch of the West-McKinley

Now there is a chance for Populist ideas to thrive again through Roosevelt.

In order to get what they want, the Wizard tells them to kill the Wicked Witch of the West-McKinley

Now there is a chance for Populist ideas to thrive again through Roosevelt.

The Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz

Any gilded age president The Wizard’s power is an illusion/Like the President. Therefore, it is misguided to look to the Wizard/President for

solutions. The Wizard did not want to see the people (No one ever saw him)

which made everyone fearful, even though he is just a regular person (Just like the President).

With the presentation of the broom, the Wizard is exposed as a fraud and becomes nothing more than a common man.

The Wizard was lassie fare with the group and they took care of the Witch themselves. He had no power…the group did.

Any gilded age president The Wizard’s power is an illusion/Like the President. Therefore, it is misguided to look to the Wizard/President for

solutions. The Wizard did not want to see the people (No one ever saw him)

which made everyone fearful, even though he is just a regular person (Just like the President).

With the presentation of the broom, the Wizard is exposed as a fraud and becomes nothing more than a common man.

The Wizard was lassie fare with the group and they took care of the Witch themselves. He had no power…the group did.

“There’s No Place Like Home”

“There’s No Place Like Home”

Dorothy, like all farmers, always had the power to “return home” and to gain power.

By simply clicking her silver heels together (Swtitching to the 16:1 oz standard) and returning home to her all-American, Midwestern values.

Dorothy, like all farmers, always had the power to “return home” and to gain power.

By simply clicking her silver heels together (Swtitching to the 16:1 oz standard) and returning home to her all-American, Midwestern values.

ConclusionConclusion

Ideally, the Populist Party were victorious because the people had the power all along and they were courageous enough to prove it. The fake “Wizard”(President) leaves Oz in the hands of the Scarecrow (farmer).

As a result of the Populist victory, Dorothy is able to return “home” to pre-industrial America.

Ideally, the Populist Party were victorious because the people had the power all along and they were courageous enough to prove it. The fake “Wizard”(President) leaves Oz in the hands of the Scarecrow (farmer).

As a result of the Populist victory, Dorothy is able to return “home” to pre-industrial America.

A Dream????A Dream????

When Dorothy wakes up, she realizes that it was just a dream…nothing has changed.

Or has it? We are more enlightened.

What do you think Baum was trying to do by writing this story?

When Dorothy wakes up, she realizes that it was just a dream…nothing has changed.

Or has it? We are more enlightened.

What do you think Baum was trying to do by writing this story?