What was William Jennings Bryan known for?

William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American orator and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party’s nominee for President of the United States in the 1896, 1900, and 1908 elections.

What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech quizlet?

Delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The speech advocated bimetallism. At the time, the Democratic Party wanted to standardize the value of the dollar to silver and opposed pegging the value of the United States dollar to a gold standard.

Who was William Jennings Bryan quizlet?

He was an American orator and politician from Nebraska, and a dominant force in the populist wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as the Party’s candidate for President of the United States (1896, 1900 and 1908). He was perhaps the best-known orator and lecturer of the era.

What policy did William Jennings Bryan support in the election of 1896 quizlet?

A speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that occurred in 1896. Bryan supported bimetallism, or free silver, which he believed would bring the naiton prosperity.

What was the significance of William Jennings Bryan’s candidacy for president in 1896?

The 1896 race is generally seen as a realigning election. The coalition of wealthy, middle-class and urban voters that defeated Bryan kept the Republicans in power for most of the time until 1932. Although defeated in the election, Bryan’s campaign made him a national figure, which he remained until his death in 1925.

What made the election of 1896 so unique in American history?

Former Governor William McKinley, the Republican candidate, defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan. The 1896 campaign, which took place during an economic depression known as the Panic of 1893, was a political realignment that ended the old Third Party System and began the Fourth Party System.

Why did farmers want free silver?

Bryan wanted the United States to use silver to back the dollar at a value that would inflate the prices farmers received for their crops, easing their debt burden. This position was known as the Free Silver Movement.

Why did most farmers support the Free Silver movement quizlet?

Farmers wanted to expand the currency supply by coining an unlimited amount of silver. They believed that if more money was in circulation, prices would go up for all goods, including farm products. If profits increased on their crops, farmers could pay their debts.

What did the farmers call the crime of 73?

Grant signed into law the Coinage Act of 1873 (also known as the Mint Act of 1873 or the Fourth Coinage Act), the ramifications of his action would not be noticed for several years. The passage of this act, though, ended up being so notorious that many would later call it the “Crime of 1873.”

Why did business not like Bimetallism?

Arguments advanced against bimetallism are: (1) it is practically impossible for a single nation to use such a standard without having international cooperation; (2) such a system is wasteful in that the mining, handling, and coinage of two metals is more costly; (3) because price stability is dependent on more than …

What was the silver question in the 1890s?

It was a defense for those with contracts who would be subjected to the businessmen over the contracts. He wanted to represent the farmers and show why it would be unjust to stay on the gold standard. Sherman, John. Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890.

What was the price of silver in 1860?

Silver Price History vs. Gold Longterm

What exactly was the silver question?

Efforts to induce inflation into the American economy, the panacea of debtors, had been present from earliest times. In 1837, Congress established a relationship between silver and gold at the ratio of 16 to 1 (meaning that 16 ounces of silver were to be equal in value to one ounce of gold). …

How did the major political parties deal with the silver question?

How did the major political parties deal with this question? The heart of the question was what would form the basis of the dollar. The dollar was backed by precious metal (specie). By cutting off the coinage of silver Congress had eliminated one method to expand the money supply.