why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election

[62][64] He responded to an argument by Senator Vilas that from silver forces might arise a Robespierre. However, the President ruled this out; his Cabinet members also refused to run. These results made the Midwest the crucial battlefield that would decide the presidency. Bryan signed on as chief prosecutor, facing off against the criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow. Our delegation should not be too prominent in applause. He knew that hard work could turn the discontent of the people into a revolt against the gold wing of the party, and no group of individuals ever labored more diligently to gain their political ends than did the silver men in the [Democratic Party] between 1893 and 1896. 3). [50], Delegates spent most of the first two days listening to various speeches by silver supporters. Senator Tillman, a fiery speaker who wore a pitchfork on his lapel, began the debate. The majority felt exposed, crestfallen, and humiliated.[56]. Chicago banker Charles G. Dawes, a McKinley advisor who had known Bryan when both lived in Lincoln, had predicted to McKinley and his friend and campaign manager, Mark Hanna, that if Bryan had the chance to speak to the convention, he would be its choice. As Bryan had called New York in an ill-considered statement to the press before leaving Lincoln. Darrow interrogated him on interpreting the Bible literally, which undercut his earlier sweeping religious . He was defeated in the general election by the Republican candidate, former Ohio governor William McKinley . [1] As a judge's son, the younger Bryan had ample opportunity to observe the art of speechmaking in courtrooms, political rallies, and at church and revival meetings. The day after his Cross of Gold speech, Bryan won the Democratic presidential nomination; he also won the support of the Populist and National Silver parties. In 1887, Bryan moved to the fast-growing state of Nebraska, where he settled in Lincoln and established a thriving law practice. The Gold Democrats received quiet financial support from Hanna and the Republicans. The galleries were quickly packed, but the delegates, slowed by fatigue from the first two days and the long journey from the downtown hotels, were slower to arrive. While the farmers of the south and west continued to support Bryan's proposed economic policies, many found McKinley's to be effective enough. Rumors that Europeans were about to redeem a large sum for gold caused desperate selling on the stock market, the start of the Panic of 1893. His father, Silas Bryan, was a Jacksonian Democrat, judge, lawyer, and local party activist. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Members of the Committee on Resolutions (also called the Platform Committee) intended to elect California Senator Stephen M. White as chairman; they found that he had already been co-opted as permanent chairman of the convention. Seward spent his early career as a lawyer before winning a seat in the New York State Senate in 1830. Stone, chair of the notification committee, essayed a lengthy speech, he was drowned out by the crowd, which wanted to hear "the Boy Orator of the Platte". The shortness of the speech did not dismay the crowds, who knew his arguments well: they were there to see and hear William Jennings Bryanone listener told him that he had read every one of his speeches, and had ridden 50 miles (80km) to hear him, "And, by gum, if I wasn't a Republican, I'd vote for you. This popular treatment of the currency issue was highly influential. Even in the South, Bryan attracted 59% of the rural vote, but only 44% of the urban vote, taking 57% of the southern vote overall. Bryan, a former Democratic congressman from Nebraska, gained his party's presidential nomination in July of that year after electrifying the Democratic National Convention with his Cross of Gold speech. He spoke some 600 times, to an estimated 5,000,000 listeners. Those that served principally as agricultural centers or had been founded along the railroad favored Bryan. His campaign was low-key, without excessive publicity: Bryan did not want to attract the attention of more prominent candidates. However, the economy was booming under the leadership of McKinley. Morgan noted, "full organization, [Republican] party harmony, a campaign of education with the printed and spoken word would more than counteract" Bryan's speechmaking. Secretary of War and Republican Party nominee William Howard Taft defeated three-time Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan.. Popular incumbent President Theodore Roosevelt honored his promise not to seek a third term, and persuaded his close friend, Taft, to . According to his biographer Michael Kazin, "Bryan felt he was serving his part in a grander conflict that began with Christ and showed no sign of approaching its end. To those who cling to the gold standard, he declared in closing: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.. Bryan served as Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1915, resigning as Wilson moved the nation closer to intervention in World War I. Though he continued to publicly oppose U.S. involvement in World War I after his resignation, Bryan changed course after the nation entered the conflict in 1917 due to extensive popular support for the war effort. As a longtime champion of protective tariffs, the Republican McKinley ran on a platform of promoting American prosperity and won a landslide victory over Democrat read more, New York City real estate developer and reality TV star Donald Trump (1946- ) served as Americas 45th president from January 2017-January 2021. See, In New England, Cleveland had won Connecticut in 1892 while losing the region as a whole by 53,000votes, Bryan won no states and lost New England by over 172,000 votes. (Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images). [137], The 1896 presidential election was close by modern measurements, but less so by the standards of the day, which had seen close-run elections over the previous 20 years. [4] Looking for a growing city in which his practice could thrive, he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1887. He introduced several proposals for the direct election of senators and to eliminate tariff barriers in industries dominated by monopolies or trusts. The answer was simple, Bryan told Abbothe had prepared a speech that would stampede the convention. President Cleveland, stunned by the convention's repudiation of him and his policies, decided against open support for a bolt from the party, either by endorsing McKinley or by publicly backing a rival Democratic ticket. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1890, when he was just 30 years old, Bryan championed populist causes including the direct election of senators, graduated federal income tax and the free silver movement, which sought to expand the federal money supply by basing U.S. currency on silver as well as gold. Retrieved May 19, 2012. Governor Altgeld had held Illinois, which was subject to the "unit rule" whereby the entirety of a state's vote was cast as a majority of that state's delegation directed. McKinley did well in the border states of Maryland, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Speakers for both parties found eager audiences. Bryan, who was still in Congress, spoke eloquently against the repeal, but Cleveland forced it through. [115], Bryan's plan for victory was to undertake a strenuous train tour, bringing his message to the people. His running mate, Theodore Roosevelt, campaigned across the nation, condemning Bryan as a dangerous threat to America's prosperity and status. "[102], Historian R. Hal Williams, in his book about the 1896 campaign, believes that the Populist nomination did Bryan little good; most Populists would have voted for him anyway and the endorsement allowed his opponents to paint him and his supporters as extremists. Bryan and many other Democrats believed the economic malaise could be remedied through a return to bimetallism, or free silvera policy they believed would inflate the currency and make it easier for debtors to repay loans. The jury predictably found Scopes guilty, but Bryans performance in the trial, and his thrashing in the national press, marked a less than stellar end to his long career as a public figure. [120], On September 11, 1896, Bryan departed on a train trip that continued until November 1, two days before the election. Department of State: Office of the Historian. South Carolina Senator Benjamin Tillman, a silver supporter, wanted an hour to address the convention, and to close the debate. [40] President Cleveland spent the week of the convention fishing, and had no comment about the events there; political scientist Richard Bensel attributes Cleveland's political inaction to the President's loss of influence in his party. Populists claim to speak for ordinary people, taking an "us versus them" stance. How could a boy in appearance, one not yet admitted to the convention, without a single state behind him, dare claim the nomination? Why did William Jennings Bryan lose? [139], In most areas, Bryan did better among rural voters than urban. The leading candidates were former Missouri congressman Richard P. Bland and former Iowa governor Horace Boies. Poor Grover Cleveland a hard-money, laissez-faire Democrat was blamed for the panic of 1893, and many leading Cleveland Democrats lost their gubernatorial and senatorial posts in the 1894 elections. John Nimick. [69] In the midst of the crazed crowd, Altgeld, a Bland supporter, commented to his friend, lawyer Clarence Darrow, "That is the greatest speech I ever listened to. Through 1895 and early 1896, Bryan sought to make himself as widely known as an advocate for silver as possible. A Missourian, Ezra Peters, wrote to Illinois Senator John M. Palmer, "Coins [sic] Financial School is raising h in this neck of the woods. The Cleveland Democrats were temporarily weak, and the Southern-Mountain coalition was ready to hand. [58] He began: I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were a mere measuring of abilities; but this is not a contest between persons. Many Republican leaders had gone on vacation for the summer, believing that the fight, on their terms, would take place in the fall. The 1896 campaign, which took place during an economic depression known as the Panic of 1893, was a realigning election that ended the old Third Party System and began the Fourth Party System. Decide to endorse William Jennings Bryan (Democratic candidate). Roosevelt was extremely popular as president, and many thought he might reconsider and run as 1908 neared. "[70], When order was restored after Bryan's speech, the convention passed the platform, voting down the minority report and a resolution in support of the Cleveland administration; it then recessed for a few hours until 8:00pm, when nominating speeches were to be made. McKinley was supported by middle-class and wealthy voters, urban laborers, and prosperous farmers; this coalition would keep the Republicans mostly in power until the 1930s. A bowery had been built for the Fourth of July picnic and dance. [38] Illinois Governor Altgeld, a leader of the silver movement, was ineligible because he was not a natural-born U.S. citizen as required for the presidency in the Constitution. Former Governor William McKinley, the Republican candidate, defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan. [95], The Populist strategy for 1896 was to nominate the candidate most supportive of silver. Writers such as Edgar Lee Masters, Hamlin Garland and his fellow Nebraskan, Willa Cather, like Bryan came from the prairies; they wrote of their admiration for him and his first battle. However, he was deemed unlikely to succeed, as many Democrats feared that if elected, he might fill some patronage jobs with Republicans. Soon afterwards, the delegates, bored, shouted for a speech from Bryan, but he was not to be found. By the 1930s, he had built the nations largest media empire, including more than two dozen newspapers in major cities nationwide, read more, Populism is a style of politics used to mobilize mass movements against ruling powers. [28] He continued to give speeches, and collected his traveling expenses, and most often a speaking fee, from those who had invited him. Bryan always regarded that argument as the speech's most powerful part, despite the fame its conclusion would gain. Meanwhile, Hanna raised millions from business men to pay for speakers on the currency question and to flood the nation with hundreds of millions of pamphlets. Bryan, with this declaration, set the theme of his argument, and as it would prove, his campaign: that the welfare of humanity was at stake with the silver issue. "[143], Michael Kazin, Bryan's biographer, notes the many handicaps he faced in his 1896 campaign: "A severe economic downturn that occurred with Democrats in power, a party deserted by its men of wealth and national prominence, the vehement opposition of most prominent publishers and academics and ministers, and hostility from the nation's largest employers". The billionaire businessman ran as a Republican and scored an upset victory over his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 read more, John McCain first entered the public spotlight as a Navy fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. Bryan left the convention, returning to his hotel to await the outcome. He campaigned relentlessly, traveling around the country and giving hundreds of speeches to millions of people, while his Republican opponent, Ohio Governor William McKinley, stayed home and gave speeches from his porch. [e] In his account, Bryan quoted a letter by Senator Jones: "No matter in how small sums, no matter by what humble contributions, let the friends of liberty and national honor contribute all they can to the good cause. Bryan's biographer, Paolo Coletta, suggests that Bryan may have played a part in inciting the silver men's departure; he was in close contact with Silver Republicans such as Teller and South Dakota Senator Richard Pettigrew. [31] Most state conventions did not bind, or "instruct", their delegates to vote for a specific candidate for the nomination; this course was strongly supported by Bryan. Any possible candidacy depended on silver supporters being successful in electing the bulk of convention delegates; accordingly Bryan backed such efforts. Sherman's act required the government to pay out gold in exchange for silver and paper currency, and through the early months of 1893 gold flowed out of the Treasury. The increasing economic struggles of poor farmers during the 1870s and 1880s led to the Populist movement. Why did the populist party support william jennings Bryan for president in the presidential election of 1896? Bryans pacifist stance put him increasingly at odds with the president, however, and he resigned in 1915 in protest after Wilson sent a second note to Germany demanding an end to submarine warfare after the sinking of the Lusitania, an action Bryan felt went too far toward violating American neutrality. [14] After his election to Congress, Bryan studied the currency question carefully, and came to believe in free silver; he also saw its political potential. If this robbery is permitted, the farmer will be ruined, and then the cities will suffer. Ultimately, the incumbent U.S. President William McKinley ended up defeating the anti-imperialist William Jennings Bryan and thus won a second four-year . McKinley won with 7.1 million votes to Bryan's 6.5 million, 51% to 47%. [80] Bryan and Sewall gained their nominations without the ballots of the gold men, most of whom refused to vote. I will not aid them to press down upon the bleeding brow of labor this crown of thorns."[26]. Attending Illinois College beginning in 1877, Bryan devoted himself to winning the school prize for speaking. In 1925, high school biology teacher John Scopes went on trial in Tennessee as a test of the first state law banning the teaching of evolution. [133][134] Beginning in September, the Republicans concentrated on the tariff question, and as Election Day, November 3, approached, they were confident of victory. He was defeated in the general election by the Republican candidate, former Ohio governor William McKinley. To that end, it was important that the Populists not nominate a rival silver candidate, and he took pains to cultivate good relations with Populist leaders. Neither candidate had much money to spend on his campaign. After running unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1894, Bryan returned to Nebraska and became editor of the Omaha World-Herald. The nominations The presidential campaign of 1896 was one of the most exciting in American history. Great Commoner Bryan dies in sleep, apoplexy given as cause of death. UPI Archives, July 27, 1925. https://www.history.com/topics/us-government/william-jennings-bryan. Taken prisoner after his plane was shot down, he suffered five and a half years of torture and confinement before his release in 1973. Thanks in advance if you have any recommendations! "[145], The consequences of defeat, however, were severe for the Democratic Party. [37], In the run up to the Democratic National Convention, set to begin at the Chicago Coliseum on July 7, 1896, no candidate was seen as an overwhelming favorite for the presidential nomination. Author: William Jennings Bryan Publisher: Haskell House Pub Limited ISBN: Size: 56.95 MB Format: PDF, ePub, Docs View: 4174 Get Book Disclaimer: This site does not store any files on its server.We only index and link to content provided by other sites. The presidential election in 1896, a contest between the Republican candidate, William McKinley (1843-1901), and the Democrat candidate, William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), was contested over McKinley's pledge to maintain the gold standard for the nation's currency, in contrast to Bryan's promise to increase the supply of money by expanding the . His widow accompanied his body in a special train car to Washington, where he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The Democrats nominated Arthur Sewall, a wealthy Maine banker and shipbuilder, for vice president. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! William Jennings Bryan on the Stand Calling Bryan to the stand was a shock for the court. Lose identity, simplify their cause to one policy (free coinage of silver), sacrifice rest of platform Why did Populists endorse Bryan? In 1904, Taft took on the role of secretary of war in the administration read more, William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) launched his career by taking charge of his fathers struggling newspaper the San Francisco Examiner in 1887. [140] The Democratic Party preserved control in the eastern cities through machine politics and the continued loyalty of the Irish-American voter; Bryan's loss over the silver issue of many German-American voters, previously solidly Democratic, helped ensure his defeat in the Midwest. "1896 Presidential Election Results". "[66], As he spoke his final sentence, he brought his hands to his head, fingers extended in imitation of thorns; amid dead silence in the Coliseum, he extended his arms, recalling with words and posture the Crucifixion of Jesus, and held that position for several seconds. United States presidential election of 1900, American presidential election held on November 6, 1900, in which Republican incumbent Pres. Its leaders have used rhetoric that stirs up anger, floated conspiracy theories, pushed the distrust of read more, William McKinley served in the U.S. Congress and as governor of Ohio before running for the presidency in 1896. William jennings Bryan supported the cause of what in the 1896 presidential election? [128] For the most part, Bryan ignored the attacks, and made light of them in his account of the 1896 campaign. The Coliseum was located in a "dry" district of Chicago but the hotels were not. This would restore a practice abolished in 1873. "[57] The Nebraska delegation waved red handkerchiefs as Bryan progressed to the podium;[56] he wore an alpaca sack suit more typical of Lincoln and the West than of Chicago. New York state Senate in 1894, Bryan did better among rural voters than urban moved to the was. 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