Cross of gold speech 1896 log in to see the full document and commentary. 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. With just the gold standard, the moneys supply was severely restricted. Recorded in 1921, the speech was originally delivered before the democratic convention in 1896 and highlights the politicians not only populist stance, but his strong position on the issue of the goldstandard.
In 1896, former nebraska congressman william jennings bryan became the democratic nominee for president by delivering one of the most powerful speeches in american political history. William jennings bryan lost the election of 1896, and gold discoveries in the. Bryan supported bimetallism, or free silver, which he believed would bring the naiton prosperity. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896. Chapter from william jennings bryans 5 cross of gold. Bryans cross of gold speech at 1896 democratic national convention, which he concluded with the fiery statement that you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold, secured him the democratic nomination for president in 1896. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan video. William jennings bryan and the politics of gold us. At milestone documents, we believe that engaging with historys original voices is exciting for students and. Cross of gold speech analysis by jessica joseph on prezi. Get indepth analysis of every man a king, with this section on william jennings bryans cross of gold speech july 9, 1896.
Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech given at the 1896 democratic convention. No doubt this is the most famous and the most effective speech ever delivered at a national party convention. Silas bryan had been born in 1822 and had established a legal practice in salem in 1851. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention, winning the nomination for the. Read the background information and the segment from william jennings bryans cross of gold speech delivered at the democratic national convention in 1896. Prescotts comments on it, i was reading again about the populists and william jennings bryan when i came across this page, which not only has the text of bryans cross of gold speech, but also an audio recording of bryan himself giving excerpts from it. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech youtube. This speech was given during the 1896 democratic national convention. The speech had such enduring popularity that bryan delivered it to attentive audiences many times in the years after. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryans most wellknown political speech.
Fielder, who is currently portraying william jennings bryan in a play in chicago, delivered the speech which he made at the 1896 democratic convention in chicago. Why was william jennings bryan so against the gold s. It was one of those rare orations that ended with a speaker literally borne away on the shoulders of electrified listeners. William jennings bryan 18601925, a former democratic congressman from nebraska, gave his cross of gold speech on july 8, 1896, to close out the democratic convention in chicago, illinois, in an attempt to grab the presidential nomination from incumbent president grover cleveland 18371908.
Mar 15, 2020 william jennings bryan, populist leader and orator who ran unsuccessfully three times for u. Cross of gold speech, classic of american political oratory that was delivered by william jennings bryan during the platform debate at the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago. Aug 25, 2007 free silver advocate william jennings bryan became the democratic presidential candidate of 1896, delivering the famous cross of gold speech denouncing the gold standard. In the address, bryan supported bimetallism or free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. Prescotts comments on it, i was reading again about the populists and william jennings bryan when i came across this page, which not only has the text of bryan s cross of gold speech, but also an audio recording of bryan himself giving excerpts from it. The cross of gold speech, by william jennings bryan 1923 history on the net authentic history 18651897 1896 election sound. Cross of gold speech 1896 by william jennings bryan. Bryan s cross of gold speech excerpts one of the most famous speeches in american political history was delivered by william jennings bryan on july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention in chicago. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. Of scotsirish and english ancestry, silas bryan was an avid jacksonian democrat. A speech delivered by william jennings bryan at the democratic national convention in chicago that occurred in 1896. Click here to request a free trial account only available to college instructors primary source readers. Cross of gold speech wikisource, the free online library. Cross of gold speech at the democratic national convention in chicago in 1897.
The cross of gold 1 the cross of gold william jennings bryan 1 overview in the election of 1896, the issue of the free coinage of silver divided the republicans, who opposed it, and the democrats, who favored it. I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this was a mere measuring of abilities. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan 1896 the wonderful wizard of oz by l. More than a century after bryan delivered that speech, his words still have power, and some of his metaphors still appear in political speeches and platforms. William jennings bryan was born in salem, illinois, on march 19, 1860, to silas lillard bryan and mariah elizabeth jennings bryan. William jennings bryan skyrocketed to national fame after giving his. Bryans plea for the coinage of silver so electrified the convention that it made him the democratic candidate for president. The heyday of the gold standard, 18201930 93 1896 july 9 william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. The cross of gold speech, by william jennings bryan 1923. Welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of. One of the most popular speakers in american history, he was noted for a deep, commanding voice.
I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago mr. In the late 1800s, william jennings bryan felt that, if money was backed by gold only, the rich would benefit. Full text and audio clip of william jenning s bryan cross of gold speech. Recorded in 1921, the speech was originally delivered before the democratic convention in 1896 and highlights the politicians not only populist stance, but his strong position on the issue of the gold standard. July 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago. Learn about his policies, cross of gold speech, and role in the scopes monkey trial. You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard. Bryans cross of gold speech to relate the historical context.
The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryan s most wellknown political speech. 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. Apr 24, 2020 william jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. Learn more about cross of gold speech with a detailed plot summary and plot diagram.
He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his cross of gold speech that favored free silver, but. Some saw him as an ambitious demagogue, others as a champion of liberal causes. The free silver movement and inflation federal reserve bank of. Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. The cross of gold speech was delivered by william jennings bryan, a former united states representative from nebraska, at the democratic national.
What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by. William jennings bryan, as evidenced by his particularly impassioned cross of gold speech, opposed the gold standard on the premise that a bimetal meaning gold and silver money standard would ease the strain on the united states economy. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention. Artists conception of william jennings bryan after the cross of gold speech, 1900. Mckinley the republican who wanted gold standard which backed the dollars soley with gold.
William jennings bryan march 19, 1860 july 26, 1925 was an american orator and politician from nebraska. William jennings bryan the democrat who wanted bimetallism which is a monetary system in which the government would give citizens either gold or silver in exchange for checks and paper currency vs. Free silver advocate william jennings bryan became the democratic presidential candidate of 1896, delivering the famous cross of gold speech denouncing the gold standard. William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us 101. William jennings bryan march 19, 1860 july 26, 1925 was the democratic party nominee for president of the united states in 1896, 1900 and 1908, a lawyer, and the 41st united states secretary of state under president woodrow wilson. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech 18 96 the most famous speech in american political history was delivered by william jennings bryan on july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention in chicago. Feb 26, 2018 welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and. Jan 08, 2019 in 1896, former nebraska congressman william jennings bryan became the democratic nominee for president by delivering one of the most powerful speeches in american political history. William mckinley accepts the republican nomination. Republican william mckinley was elected president with 51. He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his. What does this quote by william jennings bryan mean. It was bryans part of a conventionwide debate over monetary policy.
Famous nebraskan, william jennings bryan, was committed to increasing. Born in illinois, william jennings bryan 18601925 became a nebraska congressman in 1890. The most famous speech in american political history was delivered by william jennings bryan on july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention in chicago. Citation information bryan, william jennings, excerpts from speeches of william. It was delivered at the 1896 democratic national convention. Close reading of historical documents show us portions of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech he gave in 1867 and his political partys stand on the issues of bimetallism standard for currency money and railroad regulations. He married mariah, a former student of his at mckendree college, in 1852. The democrats were debating the monetary plank in their platform. William jennings bryan s cross of gold speech plot summary. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896 introduction no doubt this is the most famous and the most effective speech ever delivered at a national party convention. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 9, 1896. We reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and.
This speech, delivered at the democratic national convention, helped win the bryan, former representative to congress for nebraska, the presidential nomination of th. The cross of gold speech excerpt, by william jennings bryan. The cross of gold was a speech given by william jennings bryan at the democratic national convention in 1896 which advocated for bimetallism, or the use of both gold and silver in funding the currency. William jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. The united states and the philippine islands by rudyard kipling 1899 the winning of the west by theodore roosevelt 1889. Bryans cross of gold speech excerpts one of the most famous speeches in american political history was delivered by william jennings bryan on july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention in chicago. William jennings bryan s cross of gold speech is often considered one of the most famous speeches in american political history.
What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by william. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. After william jennings bryan gave his cross of gold speech at the 1896 democratic party convention, the democrats made him their nominee for president and caused turmoil in the peoples party, which nominated bryan as well. William jennings bryan skyrocketed to national fame after giving his cross of gold speech at. The cross of gold speech was delivered by william jennings bryan, a former united states representative from nebraska, at the democratic national convention in chicago on july 9, 1896.
William jennings bryan nebraska department of education. Cross of gold speech, july 9, 1896, democratic national convention, chicago. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896 introduction. A lithograph of william jennings bryan titled the issue1900. Cross of goldwilliam jennings bryan library of congress. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryan s nomination for president. William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech andrew. Primary source from william jennings bryans cross of gold speech during the 1896 democratic convention, politicians. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. William jennings bryan and the politics of gold us history. Bryan s speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross. A moderately wellknown delegate before he gave the speech, william jennings bryan went on to win the democratic presidential nomination that year.
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