The
Wizard
of Oz
Language
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Preview – you do not need to take notes
yet
We need to understand the following
terms to glean from the reading what’s
important
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Political party
Platform
Economic depression
Allegory
To Do
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1. Flip your lecture handout over
2. For the following groups, write the
group name, their goals, & the result
Ex:
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Group: National Grange
Goal: regulate RR rates
Result: Interstate Commerce Act
Foundations of Populism
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National Grange
Goal:
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Regulate railroad rates
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Result:
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Interstate Commerce
Act (reasonable rates)
*1st time federal gov’t
passed a law to
regulate industry
Farmer’s Alliance
(1870s)
Goal:
Wanted gov’t to print
more money

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Farmers believed they
could charge more if
more money was in
circulation
Result:
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Led to the organization
of the Populist Party
Populist Party
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Aka: People’s Party
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Goal:
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Alliance of farmers, labor leaders, reformers
Bank regulation, gov’t ownership of railroads,
unlimited silver coinage
Result:
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Candidate lost in 1896 election
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Issues faded as they were resolved
Notes continued
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Flip over your handout to the front side &
fill in the red bold definitions for the terms
on your worksheet
Background
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After the Gilded Age (economic
prosperity)  farmers experienced
economic downturns.
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Farmers wanted gov’t ownership of railroads
and other industries
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They were losing land to railroads & banks
Economic problems were blamed Pres.
Cleveland’s switch from a gold & silver to a
gold standard for currency
Populist Movement
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The Populist movement was born of the
farmers frustrations and their attempt to
gain political change through politics
In 1892 the Populist party was formed and
ran a candidate for President, with the
following key elements of their platform:
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A return to the gold and silver standard
Government ownership of the railroads
William Jennings Bryan
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1896 Presidential Election
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William McKinley vs. William Jennings Bryan
Bryan – Populist candidate in 1896
“You shall not crucify mankind upon a
cross of gold.” - Bryan
Frank L. Baum
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
Author of the Wizard
of Oz
Moved to and lived
in the Midwest
during the late
1800s and saw first
hand some of the
conditions that the
Populist Party was
trying to deal with.
The Characters
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Dorothy
Wicked Witch of the
East
Ruby (Silver)
Slippers
Yellow Brick Road
Emerald City
The Scarecrow
The Tin Man
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
The Lion
Wicked Witch of the
West
Flying Monkeys
The Wizard
Glinda (the good
witch)
Toto
Getting Home
Dorothy
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Represented
America-honest and
plucky,
kindhearted
She is lost and
trying to find
her way home
Wicked Witch of the East
Wicked Witch of the East
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Represents Eastern Bankers
Shows what will happen to them if they
continue foreclosures
Ruby (Silver) Slippers
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Taken from
the WWE
Represent the
silver
standard issue
Yellow Brick Road
Gold Standard
Emerald City
Washington D.C. – Where all of the problems
are supposed to be solved
The Scarecrow

Represents the
American
farmer--thinks
he lacks brains,
but in the book
he's quite
shrewd and
helps the
journey to D.C.
The Tin Man

Represents the
alienated
working class.
Once he was all
flesh and blood,
now they are
just machines in
an industrial
age.
The Lion
The Cowardly Lion
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Courage (Baum himself)
OR William Jennings Bryan (1886 Pres.
Candidate vs. McKinley) – “Cross of Gold”
speech
Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West
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Represent s the other opponent of the
farmers – nature.
Killed by water = irony
Flying Monkeys
Flying Monkeys
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Represent the plains Indians who
continued to swoop down and harass the
Midwest
The Wizard
 Probably Pres. Cleveland,
hated for taking away the
Sherman Silver Purchase
Act. Behind curtain pulling
levers--machine politics
controlling things. Only
provides the heroes with
symbolic rewards.
Glinda (The Good Witch)
Glinda
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Represents the Southern Populists
The answer is there all the time –
realization of the importance of silver will
show the farmers, and America, the way
home
Toto
Prohibition Party (also called the “Tea Totalers”) a
nickname: TOTO
Getting Home
To get home, all you had to do was click the
ruby (silver) slippers on the Yellow Brick
Road (gold & silver standard) to get home
Reading
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We’re going to read an article to find out
what Oz & the Munchkins represent.
As you read, consider whether various
groups (see next pg) would be for (in
favor of) or against the Populist Party

Make a chart on the back of your notes (see
example)
Chart
Point of View
Farmer
Banker
Railroad Owner
Democrat
For or Against
Populist Party
Reasoning (justification)