Listen to 1896 Populist/Democrat Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan give his “Cross of Gold” speech. He gave this speech to the Democratic National Convention on July 9th, 1896.
The link below will take you to the written transcript:
Cross of Gold Speech transcript
After listening this excerpt of Bryan’s speech, answer the following questions…
1. Why do you think this speech is referred to as the “Cross of Gold” Speech?
2. Who does Bryan say the election of 1896 is a “battle” between?
3. How does Bryan seem to stress the importance of agriculture and farmers in the speech?
4. What do you think made this an effective speech in 1896? Why were people so moved by it?
Although Bryan lost to McKinley, it is arguably the closest a “third” party endorsed candidate came to winning a Presidential election.
Bryan is defeated and the Populist Party collapses. Look at the electoral map on page 281 in your book and analyze this election.
5. Who won the popular vote?
6. By what percentage did he win the popular vote?
7. Despite winning most of the Western and southern states and nearly half the popular vote, William Jennings Bryan still lost the election. Explain why?
8. Why would most of the western and southern states vote for Bryan?
9. What was the percentage breakdown of the Electoral vote?