1. The Wizard of Oz A Parable of the Populist Era

2. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Book was written in 1900 when the Populist movement was a relatively “current event” in American politics Book was written in 1900 when the Populist movement was a relatively “current event” in American politics

3. The Characters Dorothy Dorothy “Every person” with common sense The Scarecrow The Scarecrow The farmers The Tin Woodsman The Tin Woodsman Dehumanized labor The Cowardly Lion The Cowardly Lion Wm. Jennings Bryan

4. The Wicked Witch of the West The Wicked Witch of the West The harsh environment of the Great Plains Destroyed by water, which is what the Plains need in order to prosper!!!

5. The Wicked Witch of the East The Wicked Witch of the East The eastern industrialists and bankers who controlled the little people (The Munchkins)

6. Toto Toto The tee totaling prohibitionists The Good Witch The Good Witch The Farmers Alliance Political lobby for the farmers

7. Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers Were actually silver slippers in the book but in the Technicolor film, red looked better than silver Silver was the Populists solution to the nation’s economic problems

8. The Wizard The Wizard The bumbling old man who hides behind the smoke and curtains represents any one of the Presidents from the Gilded Age Hayes (1876-1880) Garfield (1881) Arthur (1881-85) Cleveland (1885-89;1893- 1897) Harrison (1889-93) McKinley (1897-01)

9. The Yellow Brick Road The Yellow Brick Road With all the dangers along the way represented the Gold Standard and the GILDED AGE Emerald City Emerald City Washington, D.C.

10. Oz Oz Is the abbreviation for ounces, a reference to the silverites who supported free silver in the ratio of 16 oz. of silver to 1 oz. of gold Is the abbreviation for ounces, a reference to the silverites who supported free silver in the ratio of 16 oz. of silver to 1 oz. of gold

11. And as any Populist would know… There is no place like home!

12. Why did the Populist Party disappear? Major political parties adopted ideas of the Populists – no need for a minor party Major political parties adopted ideas of the Populists – no need for a minor party Gold discovered in Alaska(1898) – no need for silver Gold discovered in Alaska(1898) – no need for silver Better economic times returned for the farmers Better economic times returned for the farmers Famine in Europe increased demand for American products Famine in Europe increased demand for American products  immigration to US meant more “mouths to feed”  immigration to US meant more “mouths to feed” “Golden Age of American Agriculture (1900-1914) “Golden Age of American Agriculture (1900-1914)

13. Importance of the Populist Party Many Populist suggestions were eventually adopted into law Many Populist suggestions were eventually adopted into law Minority group can create change within the system Minority group can create change within the system TODAY… “Tea Party” Movement role???? TODAY… “Tea Party” Movement role????