populism and allegory of the wizard of oz what is populism? populism was a national movement...
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Populism and Allegory of the Wizard of Oz
What is Populism?
Populism was a national movement associated with farmers.
Being that most people in Kansas in the 1890s were farmers, Kansas played a significant role in the creation of the People’s Party.
It was a successful 3rd party political movement
It was created during a difficult economic times for farmers, who were frustrated with unequal wealth and corruption of industry, such as railroads during the Gilded Age.
They wanted the government to end the corruption
Founder James B. Weaver
Rise of Populism After the Civil War, farmers found it more and
more difficult to make a good living. New technology of the industrial era created
more advanced farm equipment. New equipment cut time and labor costs, which
allowed them to plant more Unfortunately, it also meant that to do this
farmers had to invest in expensive machinery. This put farmers into debt.
It also meant that farmers produced more than the market needed, causing prices to fall
Rise of Populism continued Droughts in the 1880s and 1890s made it
impossible to grow crops If a farmer had a bad year and carried too
much debt, he could lose his farm People were starving, had no fuel, and were facing
foreclosure
Why were the Populists unhappy? They wanted a fair price for the food they
grew They felt that the United States’ economic
policies favored industry over the farmer They were in debt, could loose their farm No rain and grasshoppers High interest rates on debt Frustrations with inequity of wealth Corruption of business (railroads/monopolies)
Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-
1913
Price Indexes for Consumer & Farm Products: 1865-
1913
The People’s Party Platform The basic question behind the People’s Party
was who should the government represent?The Workers or Big Business
They felt that the government favored Big Business
The farmers were particularly mad at the railroads They felt the railroads charged them unfair prices
to transport their crops. Farmers were also mad at banks
They felt the banks were charging them high interest rates
1892 The People’s Party demand reform! Here are some of their ideas:
Change the way the U.S. mints and distributes currency so that enough money is always available.
Re-monitization of silver. Abolition of the National Bank. Break up monopolies and trusts so that prices are subject to competition. Create an income tax where rich people pay a higher percent of their
earnings than poor people. Limit government revenue so that it does not exceed government
spending. Give the government ownership of the railroads, telegraph, and
telephone. Prevent land speculation and ownership of land by people who are not
citizens of the U.S. and do not intend to live on the land. Reform elections through the use of the secret ballot, the election of U.S.
senators by the people, a method by which the people can initiate laws, and the ability of the people to recall elected officials.
8-hour work day for government employees.
Govt.-Owned CompaniesGovt.-Owned Companies
Platform of LunacyPlatform of Lunacy
The Panic of 1893 Businesses vanished and went bankrupt
Over 16,000 disappeared Triggered a stock market crash Banks failed By 1895, unemployment reached 3 million People cried out to the government for help,
but the government continued its laissez faire policies
Here Lies ProsperityHere Lies Prosperity
Coxey’s Army, 1894Coxey’s Army, 1894
Protest march by unemployed workers from the United States, led by the Populist Jacob Coxey. They marched on Washington D.C. in 1894, the second year of a four-year economic depression that was the worst in U.S. History to that time.
Bryan’s“Cross of Gold” Speech
Bryan’s“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!
“A Giant Straddle”: Suggestion for a McKinley
Political Poster
“A Giant Straddle”: Suggestion for a McKinley
Political Poster
Why Did Bryan Lose?Why Did Bryan Lose?
His focus on silver underminedefforts to build bridges to urbanvoters.
He did not form alliances withother groups.
McKinley’s campaign was well-organized and highly funded.
Gold Triumphs Over SilverGold Triumphs Over Silver
1900 GoldStandard Act
confirmed thenation’s commitment tothe gold standard.
A victory for the forces ofconservatism.
Heyday of Western PopulismHeyday of Western Populism
Why Did Populism Decline?Why Did Populism Decline?
1. The economy experienced rapid change.
2. The era of small producers and farmers was fading away.
3. Race divided the Populist Party, especially in the South.
4. The Populists were not able to breakexisting party loyalties.
5. Most of their agenda was co-opted bythe Democratic Party.
The Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
The Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
1964: Henry Littlefield’s “Thesis”?1964: Henry Littlefield’s “Thesis”?
What Are the Metaphors? Scarecrow: farmers, stereotyped as being
brainless, but actually had a lot of good ideas. Tinman: Industrial Workers, rusted solid by rain
storm (depression), loses limbs in book-like workers. Lion: William Jennings Bryan: Loud, reformer,
speechmaker, with courage he could be “King” (president)
Munchkins: The working class, victims/prey Wicked Witch of the West: Western Frontier Toto: Populist movement, reveals the corrupt
Wizard, no collar means you can’t control the Populists
Dorothy: crosses over from farm to Oz(The Gilded Age), voice of the people
What Are the Metaphors? Wicked Witch of the East: Industrial
Establishment, factory owners and bankers, Killed by a house (Homestead Act) symbolizes the free land out west that attracted immigrants away from the factories.
Glinda the Good Witch of the North: Alaska Gold Rush, the flood of gold solved the nation’s financial problems
Wizard of Oz: President McKinley, very few people actually saw him
Flying Monkeys: Pinkerton Guards, hired to put down up-risings, sent to control Coxey’s Army
Dorothy and her 4 friends: Coxey’s Army, marching arm in arm to Washington DC to demand changes.
What Are the Metaphors? Castle Guards: National Guardsmen sent by
President Grover Cleveland to break up Coxey’s Army-sent to stop them but really on their side.
Auntie Em: corruption caused the nation to be “sick”, American was a Christian country that had lost sight of God.
Yellow Brick Road: Currency based on the gold standard/filled with hazards
Silver Slippers: Currency based on the silver standard/helped Dorothy get back home-back to the way it use to be
Balloon: Theodore Roosevelt-full of hot air and out of control
Emerald City: Washington D.C. –tainted green by money. “Get up at noon and start work at 1:00 an hour for lunch and then at 2:00 we’re done” (nothing gets accomplished in Washington)
Tornado: The Panic of 1893 (financial panic) destroyed many farms
Poppies: drug and alcohol abused lead to the downfall of society