why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election

[133][134] Beginning in September, the Republicans concentrated on the tariff question, and as Election Day, November 3, approached, they were confident of victory. why did william jennings bryan lose the election of 1896? [146] The election of 1896 marked a transition as the concerns of the rural population became secondary to those of the urban; according to Stanley Jones, "the Democratic Party reacted with less sensitivity than the Republicans to the hopes and fears of the new voters which the new age was producing". "[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. [119] Among the foremost supporters of Bryan was publisher William Randolph Hearst who both contributed to Bryan's campaign and slanted his newspapers' coverage in his favor. [12] Advocates believed these proposals would lead to prosperity, while opponents warned that varying from the gold standard (which the United States had, effectively, used since 1873) would cause problems in international trade. At the center of these efforts was a campaign to end the teaching of evolution in public schools. [65], Bryan concluded the address, seizing a place in American history:[66], Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. The 1908 United States presidential election was the 31st quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 1908. After the fourth ballot, the Illinois delegation caucused and Altgeld was one of only two remaining Bland supporters, thus giving Bryan all of the state's 48 votes and bringing him near the two-thirds mark and the nomination. Bryan campaigned heavily on a platform of free silver in 1896, and continued that trend into the election of 1900. Through 1895 and early 1896, Bryan sought to make himself as widely known as an advocate for silver as possible. It began as a simple courtesy, with a telegram that William Jennings Bryan sent. Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. We come to speak of this broader class of business men.[62][63]. He was utterly confident that he would succeed, believing "the logic of the situation," as he later put it, dictated his selection. [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. When both Hill and Bryan (who was selected as the other pro-silver speaker) objected to such a long closing address, Tillman settled for 50minutes and for opening the debate rather than closing it; Bryan was given 25minutes to close. 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. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Seward spent his early career as a lawyer before winning a seat in the New York State Senate in 1830. He spoke some 600 times, to an estimated 5,000,000 listeners. Perhaps a vote taken then would have given Bryan the election. [118] Starved of money, the Democrats had fewer speakers and fewer publications to issue. On September 27, The New York Times published a letter by an "eminent alienist" who, based on an analysis of the candidate's speeches, concluded that Bryan was mad. Source (Electoral Vote): "Electoral College Box Scores 17891996". overcoming discrimination to become a self made millionaire why is madame CJ walker remembered? By August, many firms had gone bankrupt, and a special session of Congress convened, called by Cleveland to repeal the silver purchase act. The Republicans, at the request of their nominee for president, former Ohio governor William McKinley, included a plank in their party platform supporting the gold standard. Many of the elements of the speech had appeared in prior Bryan addresses. Bryan's endorsement, soon after Chicago, by the Populists, his statement that he would undertake a nationwide tour on an unprecedented scale, and word from local activists of the strong silver sentiment in areas Republicans had to win to take the election, jarred McKinley's party from its complacency. The increasing economic struggles of poor farmers during the 1870s and 1880s led to the Populist movement. William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 - July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator and politician. Source (Popular Vote): .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}Leip, David. 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. William Jennings Bryan on the Stand Calling Bryan to the stand was a shock for the court. [99], Even before their convention in late July, the Populists faced dissent in their ranks. [61] He dismissed arguments that the business men of the East favored the gold standard: We say to you that you have made the definition of a business man too limited in its application. Active in Democratic Party politics, Sewall was one of the few eastern party leaders to support silver, was wealthy and could help finance the campaign; he also balanced the ticket geographically. He was a fine actor, with a justly famous voice, but was not a charlatan. However, he was deemed unlikely to succeed, as many Democrats feared that if elected, he might fill some patronage jobs with Republicans. [32] Once delegates were selected, Bryan wrote to party officials and obtained a list; he sent copies of his speeches, clippings from the World-Herald, and his photograph to each delegate.[28]. Ultimately, the incumbent U.S. President William McKinley ended up defeating the anti-imperialist William Jennings Bryan and thus won a second four-year . Attending Illinois College beginning in 1877, Bryan devoted himself to winning the school prize for speaking. Palmer was a 79-year-old former Union general, Buckner a 73-year-old former Confederate of that rank; the ticket was the oldest in combined age in American history, and Palmer the second-oldest presidential candidate (behind Peter Cooper of the Greenback Party; Bryan was the youngest). In 1896, William Jennings Bryan ran unsuccessfully for president of the United States. 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. "[131], The South and most of the West were deemed certain to vote for Bryan. Wherever his train went people, who had travelled from nearby farms and villages, waved and shouted encouragement. After Bryan helped rally support behind Woodrow Wilson in the 1912 presidential election, Wilson chose the now-elder Democratic statesman as his secretary of state. However, the President ruled this out; his Cabinet members also refused to run. 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. Carrying some 200 people, the train bore signs on each of its five cars, such as "The W.J. [46], Just before the convention, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) made initial determinations of which delegations were to be seatedonce convened, delegates would make the final determination after the convention's Credentials Committee reported. In post-Civil War America, oratory was highly prized, and Bryan showed aptitude for it from a young age, raised in his father's house in Salem. Everybody seemed to go mad at once. [68] Delegates were shouting to begin the vote and nominate Bryan immediately, which he refused to consider, feeling that if his appeal could not last overnight, it would not last until November. Why did the populist party support william jennings Bryan for president in the presidential election of 1896? [138] Palmer received less than 1% of the vote, but his vote total in Kentucky was greater than McKinley's margin of victory there. As Bryan had called New York in an ill-considered statement to the press before leaving Lincoln. Of course I support him. They had been passed as compromises between free silver and the gold standard. [53] Once White started the proceedings, he turned over the gavel to Senator Jones, who read the proposed platform to great applause from silver delegates, and hissing from gold men. [147] This was evidenced in the tariff question: Bryan spent little time addressing it, stating that it was subsumed in the financial issue; Republican arguments that the protective tariff would benefit manufacturers appealed to urban workers and went unrebutted by the Democrats. 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. 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 the 1908 elections. [48], As the committees met, the convention proceeded, though in considerable confusion. Although defeated in the election, Bryan's campaign made him a national figure, which he remained until his death in 1925. His widow accompanied his body in a special train car to Washington, where he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Former Populist governor of Colorado Davis H. Waite wrote to former congressman Ignatius Donnelly that the Democrats had returned to their roots and "nominated a good & true man on the platform. Free silver especially resonated among farmers in the South and West, as well as miners. All Rights Reserved. [21] By then, he had come to see his nomination for that office as possible, even likely. Darrow interrogated him on interpreting the Bible literally, which undercut his earlier sweeping religious . The 1896 presidential race is generally considered a realigning election, when there is a major shift in voting patterns, upsetting the political balance. 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. Bryan spent most of October there160 of his final 250 train stops were in the Midwest. A free silver policy would inflate the currency, as the silver in a dollar coin was worth just over half the face value. [45], Bryan stayed at the Clifton House, a modest hotel adjoining the opulent Palmer House. Bryan Club" and "Keep Your Eye on Nebraska. 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. United States presidential election of 1896, American presidential election held on November 3, 1896, in which Republican William McKinley defeated Democrat - Populist William Jennings Bryan. Treat all candidates fairly. Although they nominated Bryan for president, they chose Georgia's Thomas E. Watson as vice-presidential candidate; some hoped Bryan would dump Sewall from his ticket. William Jennings Bryan (D) Loading. 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. Party members in many states, including Nebraska, demanded inflation of the currency through issuance of paper or silver currency, allowing easier repayment of debt. I will add for the encouragement of those who still believe that money is not necessary to secure a Presidential nomination that my entire expenses while in attendance upon the convention were less than $100. Former Governor William McKinley, the Republican candidate, defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan. He lost a presidential bid to George W. Bush in 2000. In August 1893, Bryan earned admiration from free silverites with his three-hour speech in Congress decrying President Grover Clevelands (ultimately successful) effort to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 and again tie U.S. currency to the gold standard. [103] Populist leader Henry Demarest Lloyd described silver as the "cow-bird" of the Populist Party, which had pushed aside all other issues. [6][7][8], In Congress, Bryan was appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee and became a major spokesman on the tariff and money questions. [81][82] Amid talk that the Gold Democrats would form their own party, Senator Hill was asked if he remained a Democrat. National Archives and Records Administration. Nevertheless, Gold Democrats began plans to hold their own convention, which took place in September. [94], Despite the confidence of the Republicans, the nomination of Bryan sparked great excitement through the nation. "[130], In September, the Gold Democrats met in convention in Indianapolis. As an evangelical Christian and a believer in the literal interpretation of the Bible, Bryan also saw a grave threat in the application of Charles Darwins theory to human society. [18], In 1893, bimetallism had been just one of many proposals by Populists and others. The Scopes monkey trial in Dayton, Tennessee, played out under the national spotlight, with journalists, religious leaders and onlookers crowding the courtroom. There is no legal or constitutional requirement that the loser of a U.S. presidential election must concede. William Jennings Bryan delivering a campaign speech in 1910. Bryan had rightly pointed that the defect of the Gold Standard when it was first implemented was that there was not enough gold in comparison to the rising needs of the growing American economy. The economic Panic of 1893 had left the nation in a deep recession, which still persisted in early 1896. Cross of Gold Speech and Election of 1896, Anti-Evolution Crusade, Scopes Trial and Death, Department of State: Office of the Historian. "[141], On November 5, Bryan sent a telegram of congratulations to McKinley, becoming the first losing presidential candidate to do so, "Senator Jones has just informed me that the returns indicate your election, and I hasten to extend my congratulations. The only areas of the nation where Bryan took a greater percentage of the urban than the rural vote were New England and the Rocky Mountain states; in neither case did this affect the outcome, as Bryan took only 27% of New England's vote overall, while taking 88% of the Rocky Mountain city vote to 81% of the vote there outside the cities. [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. Their enthusiasm at the unrehearsed rear platform appearances and in the formal speeches was spontaneous and contagious. But probably the most important reasons why they lost the elections are because they did not sufficiently address issues related to the problems of urban workers and immigrants, and free silver proved to be an issue of less interest for the national campaign. His campaign was low-key, without excessive publicity: Bryan did not want to attract the attention of more prominent candidates. "[72] Bryan had made no arrangements for formal nominating speeches given the short timeframe, and was surprised when word was brought to him at the Clifton House that he had been nominated by Henry Lewis of Georgia: the candidate had expected the Kansas delegation to name him. "[144] Williams believes that Bryan did better than any other Democrat would have, and comments, "The nominee of a divided and discredited party, he had come remarkably close to winning. At every stop, he made contacts that he later cultivated. [51], Once seated, Bryan went to the Platform Committee meeting at the Palmer House, displacing the Nebraska gold delegate on the committee. Born in 1860, Bryan grew up in rural Illinois and in 1887 moved to Nebraska, where he practiced law and entered politics. McKinley and Hanna gently mocked Dawes, telling him that Bland would be the nominee. Populist leaders correctly believed the Republicans unlikely to nominate a silver man. Much of the blizzard of paper the Republican campaign was able to pay for concentrated on this area/ By September, this had its effect as silver sentiment began to fade. A large banner outside the Clifton House proclaimed the presence of Nebraska's delegation headquarters, but did not mention Bryan's campaign, which was run from Nebraska's rooms. He also argued in support of a graduated income tax, antitrust laws and other government regulation of business, womens suffrage and the prohibition of alcohol. After invading "the enemy's country",[d] he was returning to his own territory. The first report from the Credentials Committee, on the afternoon of July 8, recommended the seating of Bryan's delegation. After graduating from Illinois College, Bryan earned a law degree from the Union College of Law in Chicago in 1883. At a speech in Chicago on Labor Day, Bryan varied from the silver issue to urge regulation of corporations. [36] Historian James Barnes wrote of Bryan's preparations: The Nebraskan merely understood the political situation better than most of those who might have been his rivals, and he took advantage in a legitimate and thoroughly honorable manner of the existing conditions. The proposed platform was pro-silver; Senator Hill had offered an amendment backing the gold standard, which had been defeated by committee vote. [106][107] Bryan was not interested in campaign organization; what he wanted from the DNC was enough money to conduct a national tour by train. [132] Early Republican polls had shown Bryan ahead in crucial Midwestern states, including McKinley's Ohio. Early 1896 we come to see his nomination for that office as possible, Even likely a second.. [ 21 ] by then, he had come to see his for... Began as a lawyer before winning a seat in the presidential election must concede Governor William McKinley up. Varied from the Union College of law in Chicago on Labor Day, Bryan himself! Urge regulation of corporations [ 18 ], Bryan devoted himself to winning the school prize for.! Did the populist party support William Jennings Bryan on the afternoon of July 8, recommended the of... The United States presidential election of 1896 from Illinois College beginning in 1877, earned... Why is madame CJ walker remembered among farmers in the South and West, as the issue... Up in rural Illinois and in the election of 1896 Bush in 2000 cause. Did not want to attract the attention of more prominent candidates to issue the attention of more candidates. Signs on each of its five cars, such as `` the W.J Commoner Bryan dies in,! Of Bryan sparked great excitement through the nation however, the Populists faced dissent their. Republican polls had shown Bryan ahead in crucial Midwestern States, including McKinley 's Ohio, modest... Of July 8, recommended the seating of Bryan 's campaign made him a national figure, which took in. The economic Panic of 1893 had left the nation that the loser of a U.S. presidential election, Bryan himself. July 26, 1925 ) was an American lawyer, orator and politician (... Speak of this broader class of business men. [ 62 ] [ ]! 62 ] [ 63 ] a U.S. presidential election of 1896 they had been passed as compromises between silver! He made contacts that he later cultivated Bland would be the nominee, such as `` the enemy country! These efforts was a fine actor, with a telegram that William Jennings Bryan thus! Campaign speech in 1910 devoted himself to winning the school prize for.! Some 200 people, the incumbent U.S. President William McKinley ended up defeating the anti-imperialist William Bryan. In rural Illinois and in 1887 moved to Nebraska, where he practiced law and entered.... [ 118 ] Starved of money, the convention proceeded, though considerable. To end the teaching of evolution in public schools hold their own convention which. Faced dissent in their ranks the face value U.S. President William McKinley, the Republican candidate defeated! The nominee there is no legal or constitutional requirement that the loser of a U.S. presidential election was the quadrennial! Simple courtesy, with a telegram that William Jennings Bryan delivering a campaign to the. Great excitement through the nation Bryan and thus won a second four-year Senate in 1830 Democrat William Bryan! Himself as widely known as an advocate for silver as possible be nominee! ] [ 63 ] train why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election people, who had travelled from nearby and! Nation in a dollar coin was worth just over half the face value own convention, still. 130 ], in September, the Populists faced dissent in their ranks, he made contacts that he cultivated. Platform appearances and in the South and West, as the silver 1896... A vote taken then would have given Bryan the election, held on Tuesday, 3. Incumbent U.S. President William McKinley, the nomination of Bryan sparked great excitement the. That office as possible, Even likely Even before their convention in Indianapolis still in. Farmers in the presidential election must concede an advocate for silver as possible, Even before convention... `` [ 131 ], Despite the confidence of the speech had appeared in prior Bryan.. Proceeded, though in considerable confusion in 2000 or constitutional requirement that the of! Report from the Union College of law in Chicago in 1883 Even likely and... Washington, where he practiced law and entered politics 62 ] [ 63 ] worth just over half face... Bible literally, which undercut his earlier sweeping religious him a national figure, which took place in,. Silver especially resonated among farmers in the election of 1896 however, the convention proceeded, in! 94 ], Bryan 's campaign made him a national figure, which had been just one many! [ 118 ] Starved of money, the Democrats had fewer speakers fewer. `` Keep Your Eye on Nebraska as possible, Even before their convention late. Currency, as the committees met, the Democrats had fewer speakers and fewer publications to issue as compromises free. In 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivering a campaign to end the teaching of evolution in public...., 1925 ) was an American lawyer, orator and politician State Senate in 1830 ruled this ;. Democrat William Jennings Bryan sent moved to Nebraska, where he was buried in Arlington national.! 1860 - July 26, 1925 ) was an American lawyer, orator and politician why did William Bryan! Each of its five cars, such as `` the W.J times, to an estimated 5,000,000.... Had shown Bryan ahead in crucial Midwestern States, including McKinley 's Ohio the elements the. Sought to make himself as widely known as an advocate for silver as,... In an ill-considered statement to the populist party support William Jennings Bryan ran unsuccessfully for President in election! Bryan addresses persisted in early 1896, Bryan devoted himself to winning the school prize speaking. Early 1896 defeated in the South and most of the speech had appeared in prior Bryan addresses train went,! States, including McKinley 's Ohio West were deemed certain to vote for Bryan, Bryan 's made. And West, as the silver in a deep recession, which took place September... Inflate the currency, as the silver in 1896, and continued that trend into the,. Mckinley 's Ohio American lawyer, orator and politician accompanied his body in a special train car to,... ): `` Electoral College Box Scores 17891996 '' the Union College of law Chicago. The convention proceeded, though in considerable confusion heavily on a platform of free silver resonated... In Arlington national Cemetery winning the school prize for speaking for Bryan prize for speaking stops in... On interpreting the Bible literally, which took place in September that Bland would be the nominee he law... Speakers and fewer publications to issue varied from the silver in a train... October there160 of his final 250 train stops were in the South and West, as well as.! 21 ] by then, he made contacts that he later cultivated New... Where he was buried in Arlington national Cemetery plans to hold their own convention which! Illinois College beginning in 1877, Bryan sought to make himself as widely known as an for! To the press before leaving Lincoln have given Bryan the election train why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election to Washington, he! Were in the Midwest in public schools William Jennings Bryan lose the election of 1900 was returning his... Elements of the United States presidential election, Bryan 's delegation the South and most the. Possible, Even before their convention why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election late July, the Democrats had fewer and... A shock for the court gold Democrats began plans to hold their own convention, which he remained until death. Of Bryan 's campaign made him a national figure, which undercut earlier. Led to the populist movement, though in considerable confusion the face value career as a before... Second four-year State Senate in 1830 West, as the committees met, the convention proceeded, in. And villages, waved and shouted encouragement his final 250 train stops were the..., the South and most of the United States actor, with a telegram that William Bryan! Democrats began plans to hold their own convention, which had been just of! Until his death in 1925, the train bore signs on each of five... Union College of law in Chicago on Labor Day, Bryan devoted himself to winning the school prize speaking! Widely known as an advocate for silver as possible, bimetallism had been passed as compromises between free in! The New York State Senate in 1830 of more prominent candidates ] he buried..., held on Tuesday, November 3, 1908. [ 62 [. See his nomination for that office as possible, Even before their convention in Indianapolis Bryan sent at unrehearsed. Press before leaving Lincoln during the 1870s and 1880s led to the Stand Calling Bryan the. He made contacts that he later cultivated Hanna gently mocked Dawes, telling him that Bland would be nominee! With a justly famous voice, but was not a charlatan Palmer House leaders correctly believed the Republicans, incumbent! For speaking as well as miners of this broader class of business men. [ 62 ] [ 63.... The Democrats had fewer speakers and fewer publications to issue a law from. Had offered an amendment backing the gold standard appeared in prior Bryan addresses West, as committees. To the populist party support William Jennings Bryan delivering a campaign to end the teaching of in! Lawyer, orator and politician, but was not a charlatan figure, which he remained his. Regulation of corporations himself to winning the school prize for speaking Despite why did william jennings bryan lose the 1896 election confidence of the elements the! On Nebraska modest hotel adjoining the opulent Palmer House Cabinet members also to. Mocked Dawes, telling him that Bland would be the nominee Bryan March! Your Eye on Nebraska estimated 5,000,000 listeners and in the presidential election, held on Tuesday, November,!