Politics in the Gilded Age 1870-1900 - Introduction

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) Politics in the Gilded Age 1870-1900 Introduction At the close of the 1800s, a journalist named L. Frank Baum gained notoriety. Baum had created "Oz" years earlier when he presented a story to a group of youngsters who were visiting his newspaper office in South Dakota. His most well-known tale, The Wizard of Oz, was published in 1900. The world of Oz was created when he made up a story about a lovely place. While thinking of a name, he is said to have looked down at his filing cabinet and saw the bottom drawer was labeled "O-Z." This lady from rural Kansas thought she would get help from a "wonderful wizard," but the wizard turned out to be a scammer. Since then, a lot of people have conjectured that the narrative revealed Baum's political affinity for the Populist Party, which stoked farmers' aspirations for federal change in the Midwest and South. Populists searched for solutions in a similar way as Dorothy, regardless of whether the author sought to create a heartland "American fairy tale" or a metaphor for the suffering of laborers and farmers in late nineteenth-century America. Furthermore, the Washington administration turned out to be timid rather than mystical. A journalist by the name of L. Frank Baum rose to popularity at the end of the 1800s and created the fantasy realm of Oz, which has had a lasting impact on literature. Years prior, while working at his South Dakota newspaper office, Baum started his foray into the storytelling world by narrating a story to a group of young guests. "The Wizard of Oz," his most famous creation, was ultimately released in 1900. The origin of Oz came about when Baum, trying to think of a name for this magical location, looked down at his file cabinet, which had the handy "O-Z" labeled on the bottom drawer. A little Kansas girl named Dorothy set out on a quest within this magical world, hoping to get help from a socalled "wonderful wizard," only to discover that he was really a con artist. Both readers and academics have been captivated by Baum's story's allegorical qualities, which has prompted many to hypothesize about its possible political overtones. There are others who read Dorothy's journey and the Wizard's deceit as evidence of Baum's support for the Populist Party, which backed the demands for government changes made by farmers in the Midwest and South. In the same way that Dorothy looked for answers to her problems, populists looked for answers to the financial difficulties that rural communities faced. This was true whether Baum was trying to create a "American fairy tale" set in the heartland or a moving allegory for the hardships that farmers and laborers faced in late nineteenth-century America. Moreover, Baum's criticism of modern political leadership is reinforced by the portrayal of the Washington government as timid rather than magical. Compared to the Wizard's lofty pronouncements, the governance's actuality seemed dull and ineffective. The disillusionment that Dorothy felt upon seeing the actual character of the Wizard reflects the feelings of many Americans who were let down by the Gilded Age political elite. Baum's inventive story offers a prism through which to see the Gilded Age's sociopolitical environment. The United States had significant social unrest, economic expansion, and industrialization during this time. Some facets of society prospered, while others struggled with social injustice and economic suffering. Concerns about concentrated wealth and corporate power arose with the emergence of monopolies and trusts, which prompted calls for government involvement and reform. In this setting, the Populist Party became a powerful political force, pushing for policies like direct senator election, railroad and bank control, and the free coinage of silver. Farmers, workers, and small business owners who felt left out of the current economic system were the party's main sources of support. Whether on purpose or not, Baum's support for the Populist movement connected with the general unhappiness and desire for change among regular Americans. In the end, "The Wizard of Oz" remains a timeless classic, enthralling readers of all ages with its eternal themes of bravery, friendship, and the pursuit of personal growth. However, underneath its lighthearted exterior is a deep reflection on the social and political climate of the day, which makes it a valuable and timeless resource for interpretation and analysis.