The Wizard of Oz and Populism Bailee and Andrea

Populism 1890’s Populism is described as being “ the movement or migration of the people” In the 1890’s, people wanted less debt on farmers and other workers, so they could have more of a voice in government.

Dorothy The all American girl representing a common citizen from America. She lived in a Populist party area in Kansas.

Toto Toto plays a very big role. He represents the “Teetotalers”- Pledges to drink tea instead of alcohol. They are important allies of the Populists during the Free Silver Coalition Toto is the ally to Dorothy

Scarecrow Shows how farmers cant hold their own ground against the industrialization movement Are seen as whimps, not smart enough, and too intimidated by politics. Dorothy gives him a wake up call and offers him to come with her get his brain from Oz

Tin Man Represent an industrial worker. The wicked witch of the East curses his axe which makes him chop off parts of his body. This is symbolic for industrial accidents Was rusted solid, representing in the Great Depression, the closing of factories.

Cowardly Lion Represents William Jennings Bryan: in 1896 was a Democratic nominee for president, supported by the Populist Party He did not win the vote of the Industrial Labor Even though he was a lion, which is supposed to be an intimidating animal, he didn’t have any real power Looks can be deceiving Hence the word “cowardly”

Good Witch of the North and of the South Represent allies to the farmers in the North and South They made up the Populist Party This was used for good and evil… WITCH CRAFT xD :o D: -_- XXXX

Miss Gulch She is threatening to take away Dorothy’s families farm She represent the banks/ farmer’s mortgages Farmers had a hard time holding on to their farms because of money issues

Wicked Witch Of the West Represents the nasty nature of the West that put the farmers farms in jeopardy Dead dirt No rain The Witch wanted to take away Dorothy’s shoes which was Bimetallism

The Wizard Of Oz He represented President McKinley Had power of deception over the American people Everyone was afraid of him, even though he was just a regular person In the end the President didn’t have the power, the power was in the peoples hands He wanted to satisfy people, but not at the source where it mattered the most

Munchkins Represent child labor Wicked Witch of the East made the Munchkins slaves. Dorothy freed them from enslavement

Monkeys Represent Native Americans They were manipulated by the wicked witch of the west Wanted farmers land for their own because they were there first

The Yellow Brick Road Represented Gold. Gold was thought to be so important that a panic happened. It became so valuable and important to possess because it practically insured your safety. If you follow the “yellow brick road” , your almost guaranteed to be led to saftey, in emerald City

Silver Dorothy’s shoes represent silver. At the time people did not recognize the ultimate power of either silver or gold Bimetallism- created when Dorothy’s shoes meet the yellow brick road ( silver meets gold) This happened because when Dorothy received her shoes (or silver) it gave her a chance of living and to get home. American citizens had this because they would trade paper money for gold and silver so they could survive

Munchkinland Represents the East coast establishing a new way of life: industry, banking, political standings Its much different than Kansas

The Journey to the Wizard of Oz Represents a group of unemployed workers to march to Washington D.C., like a public protest for more money and more job opportunities

Emerald City Represents Washington D.C. The Emerald City is not actually green. It is white. They are told by the ruling government to wear glasses, as a trick to make it look emerald. This represents the Government in the United States at the time as giving the false illusion of what it really was like.

Wicked Witch :Death Her meltation by water represents the drought in the West during the 1890’s as a symbolism that it was over.

Farmers Looked to Wrong Sources Farmers look up to Government and the President even though they had the power to decide themselves

Sources http://voices.yahoo.com/wizard-oz-parable-populism-late-1800s-6737008.html?cat=4 http://www.themoneymasters.com/mm/the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz/