The Wizard Of OZ

Allusions to 19th-century America

See also: Political interpretations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Populist movement (United States, 19th Century)

Many decades after its publication, Baum's work gave rise to a number of political interpretations, particularly in regards to the 19th-century Populist movement in the United States.^[47] In a 1964 American Quarterly article titled "The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism",^[48] educator Henry Littlefield posited that the book served an allegory for the late 19th-century bimetallism debate regarding monetary policy.^[49][50] Littlefield's thesis achieved some support but was widely criticized by others.^[51][52][53] Other political interpretations soon followed. In 1971, historian Richard J. Jensen theorized in The Winning of the Midwest that "Oz" was derived from the common abbreviation for "ounce", used for denoting quantities of gold and silver.^[54]