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