Progressivism

Roots of the Progressives Greenback Labor Party- anti-monopoly, pro- paper currency, pro union Greenback Labor Party- anti-monopoly, pro- paper currency, pro union Populists- roots among poor white cotton farmers (South) and wheat farmers (Mid-West), anti industry Populists- roots among poor white cotton farmers (South) and wheat farmers (Mid-West), anti industry Mainstreamed by William Jennings Bryan in 1896 Mainstreamed by William Jennings Bryan in 1896

Noted Progressives Bob LaFollette Wisconsin Senator (self- appointed) Wisconsin Senator (self- appointed) Often listed as one of the top US Senators of all time (tied with Henry Clay) for his work in Progressivism Often listed as one of the top US Senators of all time (tied with Henry Clay) for his work in Progressivism

Tom Watson Georgia Senator Georgia Senator Populist in nature Populist in nature Thought to have been in line to run with WJ Bryan in 1896, but failed Thought to have been in line to run with WJ Bryan in 1896, but failed Led to the end of Populism, which dissolved into Progressivism Led to the end of Populism, which dissolved into Progressivism Supported the KKK Supported the KKK

Charles Evans Hughes New York New York Republican Republican Governor of NY Governor of NY As Gov, he exposed malpractices in the gas and insurance industries As Gov, he exposed malpractices in the gas and insurance industries

The Wizard of OZ and Populism

Dorothy = the American people: plucky, good natured, naive. Dorothy = the American people: plucky, good natured, naive. Toto = the Prohibition (Temperance) party. Favored the bimetallic standard but like any fringe group often pulled in the wrong direction. So they got to be a dog. (Toto is a play on "teetotalers.") Toto = the Prohibition (Temperance) party. Favored the bimetallic standard but like any fringe group often pulled in the wrong direction. So they 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, leads to nowhere. The yellow brick road = paved with gold bricks, leads to nowhere. Dorothy's silver slippers = originally the property of the Wicked Witch of the East, until Dorothy drops the house on the witch. Walking on the yellow brick road with the silver slippers represented bimetalism. Dorothy's silver slippers = originally the property of the Wicked Witch of the East, until Dorothy drops the house on the witch. Walking on the yellow brick road with the silver slippers represented bimetalism.

The Munchkins = subjects of the eastern banking and industrial interests, i.e., eastern workers who didn't vote for Bryan. The Munchkins = subjects of the eastern banking and industrial interests, i.e., eastern workers who didn't vote for Bryan. The Scarecrow = western farmers. They were Populists. The Scarecrow = western farmers. They were Populists. The Tin Woodsman = eastern workers. Populist mythology always looked to this group for support, but never actually found it in reality. Baum realized this (most Populists didn't) and shows the Tinman as a victim of mechanization. He's so dehumanized he doesn't have a heart. The Tin Woodsman = eastern workers. Populist mythology always looked to this group for support, but never actually found it in reality. Baum realized this (most Populists didn't) and shows the Tinman as a victim of mechanization. He's so dehumanized he doesn't have a heart. The Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan. The Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan. The Emerald City = Washington D.C. The color is suggestive of paper greenbacks. The Emerald City = Washington D.C. The color is suggestive of paper greenbacks. The Wizard = President McKinley, but sometimes his advisor, Marcus Alonzo Hanna. The Wizard = President McKinley, but sometimes his advisor, Marcus Alonzo Hanna.

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

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