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'''''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''''' is a the title of a very popular children's book (1900, and many sequels), a leading Broadway play for adults (1902), and an unusually popular move for fans of all ages (1939).  There have been many film and dramatic spinoffs, as well as books, trinkets and toys based on the Wizard and the other memorable characters.

'''''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''''' is a the title of a very popular children's book (1900, and many sequels), a leading Broadway play for adults (1902), and an unusually popular move for fans of all ages (1939).  There have been many film and dramatic spinoffs, as well as books, trinkets and toys based on the Wizard and the other memorable characters.

Academics, especially economists and historians, use the story to study the images of politics and economics in the U.S. in the 1890s.  Several hundred college level economics courses feature a unit on the Wizard of Oz, to analyze money policy.

Academics, especially economists and historians, use the story to study the images of politics and economics in the U.S. in the 1890s.  Several hundred college level economics courses feature a unit on the Wizard of Oz, to analyze money policy.

Many of the events and characters of the book resemble the actual political personalities, events and ideas of the 1890s.  The 1902 stage adaptation mentioned, by name, President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], oil magnate [[John D. Rockefeller]], Senator [[Mark Hanna]] and other political celebrities. (No real people are mentioned by name in the 1900 book.) Even the title has been interpreted as alluding to a political reality: oz. is an abbreviation for ounce, a unit familiar to those who fought for a 16 to 1 ounce ratio of silver to gold in the name of [[Bimetallism]]<ref> Baum's son said he thought his father got the name from a file cabinet labeled A-N and O-Z.</ref>

Many of the events and characters of the book resemble the actual political personalities, events and ideas of the 1890s.  The 1902 stage adaptation mentioned, by name, President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], oil magnate [[John D. Rockefeller]], Senator [[Mark Hanna]] and other political celebrities. (No real people are mentioned by name in the 1900 book.) Even the title has been interpreted as alluding to a political reality: oz. is an abbreviation for ounce, a unit familiar to those who fought for a 16 to 1 ounce ratio of silver to gold in the name of [[Bimetallism]]<ref> Baum's son said he thought his father got the name from a file cabinet labeled A-N and O-Z.</ref>

[[Image:Coin-cartoon-1894.jpg|thumb|left|400px|''Coin's Financial School'' (1894), a famous silverite book; Coin is a boy who outsmarts all the economics professors by showing the wisdom of "bimetallism" (i.e. free silver) and refuting the fallacies about gold]]

[[Image:COIN1894.JPG|thumb|left|400px|''Coin's Financial School'' (1894), a famous silverite book; Coin is a boy who outsmarts all the economics professors by showing the wisdom of "bimetallism" (i.e. free silver) and refuting the fallacies about gold]]

==Plot line==

==Plot line==

The national capital, the Emerald City, is a dream-like place based on the "White City," the common name for the Chicago World's fair of 1893, which Baum and Denslow attended often. The emerald green is an illusion (everyone must wear green glasses), symbolizing the fraudulent world of greenback paper money that only pretends to have value.  

The national capital, the Emerald City, is a dream-like place based on the "White City," the common name for the Chicago World's fair of 1893, which Baum and Denslow attended often. The emerald green is an illusion (everyone must wear green glasses), symbolizing the fraudulent world of greenback paper money that only pretends to have value.  

[[Image:Dorothy and the Scarecrow 1900.jpg|thumb|300px|Denslow's drawing of scarecrow hung up on pole and helpless, from 1st edition of book, 1900]]

[[Image:Image:DOROTHY1.JPG|thumb|300px|Denslow's drawing of scarecrow hung up on pole and helpless, from 1st edition of book, 1900]]

The Wizard/president is annoyed by his guests -- by the demands of the people. He is a corrupt politician, a shrewd manipulator who seeks power for himself, ignores the needs of the people, and rules by fooling with people's minds. He selfishly sends them to destroy his enemy, the Wicked Witch of the West.  If she gets them, he is rid of a nuisance.  If they kill her, great--he will be pleased and then worry what to do next.   

The Wizard/president is annoyed by his guests -- by the demands of the people. He is a corrupt politician, a shrewd manipulator who seeks power for himself, ignores the needs of the people, and rules by fooling with people's minds. He selfishly sends them to destroy his enemy, the Wicked Witch of the West.  If she gets them, he is rid of a nuisance.  If they kill her, great--he will be pleased and then worry what to do next.