THE

WIZ

ARD OF

OZ

AND

POPU

LISM

BA

I LE

E A

ND

AN

DR

EA

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/