The document discusses the "Wizard of Oz Populism Theory" which analyzes L. Frank Baum's 1900 book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" as an allegory for the economic and political issues facing farmers and workers in the 1890s. Specifically, each main character represents a different group affected by debates over gold versus silver standards and control by industrialists and bankers. For example, Dorothy represents the common people, the Scarecrow represents farmers, and the Cowardly Lion represents William Jennings Bryan. The defeat of the silver shoes represents the loss of the movement to replace gold with silver when Bryan lost the 1896 presidential election.
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