PopulismPopulismand the Wizard of OZ.and the Wizard of OZ.

Farmer’s ComplaintFarmer’s Complaint Tariffs:Tariffs:1. Raised price on foreign farm machinery 1. Raised price on foreign farm machinery

..2.US tariffs on foreign manufactured 2.US tariffs on foreign manufactured

goods lead to European tariffs on goods lead to European tariffs on Farmers crops.Farmers crops.

Monetary Policy:Monetary Policy:Farmers wanted an increase in money Farmers wanted an increase in money

supply.supply.Opponents wanted a tighter money Opponents wanted a tighter money

supplysupply

The Silver Question:The Silver Question:Gold Bugs vs. SilveritesGold Bugs vs. Silverites

Farmer ProtestsFarmer Protests

The Grange- 1866, helped form a coop of farmers The Grange- 1866, helped form a coop of farmers who could work together for change.who could work together for change.

Farmer Alliances- networks of farmers that Farmer Alliances- networks of farmers that banded together to call for regulation of the rail banded together to call for regulation of the rail roads, more money in circulation, anti-trust laws roads, more money in circulation, anti-trust laws and farm credit.and farm credit.

Government Response: President Cleveland Government Response: President Cleveland “though the people support the government, the “though the people support the government, the government should not support the people”.government should not support the people”.

Cleveland signed the Interstate Commerce Act in Cleveland signed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887: this act regulated the rail prices, and 1887: this act regulated the rail prices, and disallow rails from giving special discounts to disallow rails from giving special discounts to some customers.some customers.

The PopulistsThe Populists

In 1890 the Farmers’ Alliances formed In 1890 the Farmers’ Alliances formed the Populist Party and had the the Populist Party and had the following platform:following platform:Expanded money supplyExpanded money supplyUnlimited minting of silverUnlimited minting of silverProgressive income tax: greater financial Progressive income tax: greater financial

burden on industrialists and less on burden on industrialists and less on farmers.farmers.

Government ownership of communications Government ownership of communications and transportation systems.and transportation systems.

Presidential Candidate BryanPresidential Candidate Bryan William Jennings Bryan was the William Jennings Bryan was the

1896 Democratic Candidate 1896 Democratic Candidate and after giving his famous and after giving his famous Cross of Gold speech was Cross of Gold speech was supported by the Populists.supported by the Populists.

Failed to pull in American Failed to pull in American Factory WorkersFactory Workers

The Cross of Gold SpeechThe Cross of Gold Speech Refer to the gold standardRefer to the gold standard You shall not press down upon You shall not press down upon

the brow of labor this crown of the brow of labor this crown of thorns, You shall not crucify thorns, You shall not crucify mankind upon a mankind upon a “cross of “cross of gold!”gold!”

Link to the Wizard of OzLink to the Wizard of Oz When Baum wrote the When Baum wrote the

Wizard of Oz, he made Wizard of Oz, he made astute observations about astute observations about rural life in South Dakota rural life in South Dakota and urban/industrial life in and urban/industrial life in Chicago.Chicago.

Many have made the links Many have made the links between the movie, between the movie, industrialization, industrialization, westward expansion and westward expansion and the Populist movement.the Populist movement.

In your notes, list the following In your notes, list the following historical concepts…historical concepts…

““Robber Baron”Robber Baron” FarmersFarmers William Jennings William Jennings

BryanBryan Industrial Workers Industrial Workers

(2)(2) ““Captain of Captain of

Industry”Industry”

Gold StandardGold Standard President President

ClevelandCleveland The “Everyman” The “Everyman”

AmericanAmerican Free SilverFree Silver Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

As we encounter each As we encounter each character from The Wizard of character from The Wizard of

Oz…Oz…

try and match the earlier try and match the earlier concepts to one of the concepts to one of the

characters.characters.

The ScarecrowThe Scarecrow

““if I only had a brain.”if I only had a brain.”

FarmersFarmers

The Tin ManThe Tin Man

““if I only had a heart.”if I only had a heart.”

Industrialists Industrialists

The Cowardly LionThe Cowardly Lion

““big roar, little bite”, lacked couragebig roar, little bite”, lacked courage

William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan

The Yellow Brick RoadThe Yellow Brick Road

““follow the yellow brick road” that follow the yellow brick road” that leads nowhereleads nowhere

The Gold StandardThe Gold Standard

DorothyDorothy

The “Everyman” AmericanThe “Everyman” American

Dorothy’s ShoesDorothy’s Shoes

Originally silver in the book, these Originally silver in the book, these got Dorothy out of the land of Oz.got Dorothy out of the land of Oz.

Free SilverFree Silver

The Wicked Witch of The The Wicked Witch of The EastEast

““Robber Baron”Robber Baron”

Rockefeller and Standard Oil:Rockefeller and Standard Oil:

The MunchkinsThe Munchkins

““in bondage for many years, making in bondage for many years, making them slave for the witch night and them slave for the witch night and day.”day.”

Industrial workers - Industrial workers - immigrantsimmigrants

Emerald City and the Wizard of Emerald City and the Wizard of OzOz

Washington D.C.Washington D.C.&&

President Cleveland President Cleveland

The Good Witch of the NorthThe Good Witch of the North

Allows Dorothy to take the Ruby Allows Dorothy to take the Ruby (silver) shoes(silver) shoes

““Captain of Industry”Captain of Industry”

Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie