Election of 1896Election of 1896

The CandidatesThe Candidates

Republican Party Republican Party Nominee - Nominee - William McKinleyWilliam McKinley

Democratic / Democratic / Populist Party Populist Party Nominee – William Nominee – William Jennings BryanJennings Bryan

View on the Monetary View on the Monetary SystemSystem

RepublicanRepublican Gold StandardGold Standard The US economy is The US economy is

basically soundbasically sound No need for silverNo need for silver

Democrat/PopulistDemocrat/Populist Bi-metallism (gold Bi-metallism (gold

& silver)& silver) Create inflation so it Create inflation so it

is easier to repay is easier to repay debtdebt

SupportersSupporters

Republicans Republicans Business and Business and

IndustryIndustry ““Gold Bugs”Gold Bugs”

Democrats & Democrats & PopulistsPopulists Farmers & WorkersFarmers & Workers ““Silver-ites”Silver-ites”

Style of CampaignStyle of Campaign

RepublicanRepublican ““Front Porch Front Porch

Campaign”Campaign” Newspapers Newspapers

reported what he reported what he saidsaid

Democrat/PopulistDemocrat/Populist ““Whistle-Stop” Whistle-Stop”

ToursTours Active campaign: Active campaign:

shook hands, met shook hands, met the people, the people, memorable memorable speechesspeeches

ResultsResults

RepublicanRepublican Popular VotePopular Vote

7,104,774 (52%)7,104,774 (52%) Electoral VoteElectoral Vote

271271

Democrat/PopulistDemocrat/Populist Popular VotePopular Vote

6,502,925 (48%)6,502,925 (48%) Electoral VoteElectoral Vote

176176

TARIFFTARIFF

McKinleyMcKinley FOR IT!FOR IT! Keep prices high so Keep prices high so

corporate profits are corporate profits are high too!high too!

Keep foreign business Keep foreign business competitors out of competitors out of America!America!

BryanBryan NO!NO! Benefits rich factory Benefits rich factory

owners ONLYowners ONLY Farmers and laborers Farmers and laborers

have to pay the higher have to pay the higher pricesprices

Reason for ResultsReason for Results

Republicans had Republicans had the power and the power and influence of Big influence of Big BusinessBusiness

Few people wanted Few people wanted to change to change leadership if leadership if business was business was succeedingsucceeding

Democrats and Democrats and Populists had the Populists had the popular support of popular support of the people but the people but many of these many of these voters chose voters chose McKinley due to McKinley due to pressure from their pressure from their bossesbosses

The Democratic National The Democratic National Convention in 1896Convention in 1896

Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” SpeechSpeech

““You come to us and tell us that the You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold great cities are in favor of the gold standard. I tell you that the great cities standard. I tell you that the great cities rest upon these broad and fertile rest upon these broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the grow in the streets of every city in the country….country….

Having behind us the commercial Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold”crucify mankind upon a cross of gold”

Bryan delivering the “Cross of Bryan delivering the “Cross of Gold Speech”Gold Speech”

Why did the Populist Party Why did the Populist Party disappear?disappear?

Major political parties adopted ideas of the Major political parties adopted ideas of the Populists – no need for a minor partyPopulists – no need for a minor party

Gold discovered in Alaska(1898) – no need Gold discovered in Alaska(1898) – no need for silverfor silver

Better economic times returned for the Better economic times returned for the farmersfarmers Famine in Europe increased demand for American Famine in Europe increased demand for American

productsproducts immigration to US meant more “mouths to feed”immigration to US meant more “mouths to feed” ““Golden Age of American Agriculture (1900-1914) Golden Age of American Agriculture (1900-1914)

Importance of the Populist Importance of the Populist PartyParty

Many Populist suggestions were Many Populist suggestions were eventually adopted into laweventually adopted into law

Minority group can create change Minority group can create change within the system!within the system!