1. The Wizard of Oz

2. Introduction to “The Wizard of Oz”
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is an American children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow, originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900.
However, most of you know it from this 1939 film.

3. Allegory
To fully understand the Wizard of Oz you must understand the history of America in the 1880s and 90s as well as the concept of allegory.
An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

4. Foundations of Populism
Farmer’s Alliance (1870s)
Goal:
Wanted gov’t to print more money
Farmers believed they could charge more if more money was in circulation
Result:
Led to the organization of the Populist Party
National Grange
Goal:
Regulate railroad rates
Result:
Interstate Commerce Act (reasonable rates)
*1st time federal gov’t passed a law to regulate industry

5. Populist Party Aka: People’s Party Goal: Result:
Alliance of farmers, labor leaders, reformers
Goal:
Bank regulation, gov’t ownership of railroads, unlimited silver coinage
Result:
Candidate lost in 1896 election
Issues faded as they were resolved

6. Background
During the Gilded Age (economic prosperity for some)  farmers experienced economic downturns.
Farmers wanted gov’t ownership of railroads and other industries
They were losing land to railroads & banks
Economic problems were blamed Pres. Cleveland’s switch from a gold & silver to a gold standard for currency

7. Populist Movement
The Populist movement was born of the farmers frustrations and their attempt to gain political change through politics
In 1892 the Populist party was formed and ran a candidate for President, with the following key elements of their platform:
A return to the gold and silver standard
Government ownership of the railroads

8. William Jennings Bryan
1896 Presidential Election
William McKinley vs. William Jennings Bryan
Bryan – Populist candidate in 1896
“You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” - Bryan

9. Frank L. Baum Author of the Wizard of Oz
Moved to and lived in the Midwest during the late 1800s and saw first hand some of the conditions that the Populist Party was trying to deal with.

10. The Characters Dorothy Wicked Witch of the East Ruby (Silver) Slippers
Yellow Brick Road
Emerald City
The Scarecrow
The Tin Man
The Lion
Wicked Witch of the West
Flying Monkeys
The Wizard
Glinda (the good witch)
Toto
Getting Home

11. Dorothy Represented America--honest and plucky, kindhearted
She is lost and trying to find her way home

12. Wicked Witch of the East

13. Wicked Witch of the East
Represents Eastern Bankers
Shows what will happen to them if they continue foreclosures

14. Ruby (Silver) Slippers
Taken from the WWE
Represent the silver standard issue

15. Yellow Brick Road Gold Standard

16. Emerald City Washington D. C
Emerald City Washington D.C. – Where all of the problems are supposed to be solved

17. The Scarecrow
Represents the American farmer--thinks he lacks brains, but in the book he's quite shrewd and helps the journey to D.C.

18. The Tin Man
Represents the alienated working class. Once he was all flesh and blood, now they are just machines in an industrial age.

19. The Lion

20. The Cowardly Lion Courage (Baum himself)
OR William Jennings Bryan (1886 Pres. Candidate vs. McKinley) – “Cross of Gold” speech

21. Wicked Witch of the West

22. The Wicked Witch of the West
Represent s the other opponent of the farmers – nature. What does her death at the hands of Dorothy say about America’s ingenuity to conquer the West/Nature?
Killed by water = irony

23. Flying Monkeys

24. Flying Monkeys
Represent the plains Indians who continued to swoop down and harass the Midwest
They work with Nature and thus for the Wicked Witch of the West in this allegory.

25. The Wizard
Probably Pres. Cleveland, hated for taking away the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. Behind curtain pulling levers--machine politics controlling things. Only provides the heroes with symbolic rewards.

26. Glinda (The Good Witch)

27. Glinda Represents the Southern Populists
The answer is there all the time – realization of the importance of silver will show the farmers, and America, the way home

28. Toto Prohibition Party (also called the “Tea Totalers”) a nickname: TOTO

29. Getting Home To get home, all you had to do was click the ruby (silver) slippers on the Yellow Brick Road (gold & silver standard) to get home