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 land was cheap The Great Plains
blame the railroads (monopolies) natural disaster occurred Trouble begins severe drought overproduction farmers in debt blame the railroads (monopolies) natural disaster occurred
Farmers do not receive help party leaders at state level do not want to get involved
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)
The Populist Party members were people in rural areas strong support in the South and the West some support in the North
What they wanted Reforms in the area of Land Cheaper transportation Finances
Their demands Land Transportation Finances 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
And a little more Graduated income tax Term limit for the president Secret ballot when voting And for the working man eight hour work day
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)
“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
Legacy goals of reform did not die out reappears during the Progressive Era
A Populist Parable “the Wizard of Oz” What is the symbolism?
Kansas
Dorothy
Tornado
Wicked Witch of the East
Glinda the Good Witch of the North
Munchkin People
Wicked Witch of the West
Yellow Brick Road
Scarecrow
Tin woodsmen
Cowardly Lion
Emerald City
The Wizard of Oz
Flying Monkeys
Water
Fall off on the way home
Scarecrow rules the East and the Tin Woodsmen Rules the West
The Ruby Slippers?
OZ
The Great Plains where out story takes place Kansas The Great Plains where out story takes place The land Farmers
Dorothy Miss Everyperson One of us
Tornado Surprising victories at the polls at the local level that the party had
Wicked Witch of the East Monopolies Banks Those wicked people who favored the gold standard
Glinda the Good Witch of the North Support for silver was strong in the North where there was industrial workers
Common man in servitude Munchkin People Common man in servitude
Wicked Witch of the West Mortgage companies, Railroads forces of natures or Other things preventing progress in the west
Yellow Brick Road Yellow = color of gold Bricks = what gold comes in It is a dangerous journey Gold standard is dangerous “cross of gold” speech Silver over gold
Scarecrow farmers Emerges in the book as innately a very shrewd and capable individual Not a hick or hayseed Rules the nations capital in the end of the book
Tin woodsmen A simple industrial worker in the East which have been in slaved by the factories of the east Dehumanizing them/striped of their individuality They have become a kind of machine
Crowdedly Lion Bryan himself Reformers who have the courage
Emerald City Washington D.C The nations capital Color of the Greenbacks
The Wizard of Oz A little bumbling man hiding behind a facade of paper mache and noise From Omaha Nebraska Presidents from Grant to McKinley Hiding in the white house
Flying Monkeys Plain Indians Were once free to roam “swing in the trees” No longer allowed to roam free = destruction of the buffalo herd
Water What else would the farmers need? Solution to the farmers problems Brings an end to the terrible forces of nature
Fall off on the way home “Lost forever in the desert” Refers to America in 1900 Populist ideas lost after 1896 election
Scarecrow rules the East and the Tin Woodsmen Rules the West Farmers interests achieved Industrialism moves west
The Ruby Slippers? They are really silver “three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you want to go”
OZ Ounces