Election+of+1896+-+Bryan,+Democrats+and+Populists


 * __Election of 1896 - Bryan, Democrats and Populists__**

The presidential election of 1896 was pivotal because of the issues in the campaign. Republicans used the campaign to attack the low tariff laws recently passed by the Democrats, asserting that the tariff helped exacerbate already depressed economic times. The gold and silver monetary issue also figured prominently and emerged as the chief point of contention between the parties. Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech didn't do much to change the view of the high tariff and gold standard as means for prosperity. Also, after the severe panic of 1893 and the failings of Cleveland and the Democrats, the Republicans were confident that they could secure victory. The Republican's selected Governor William Mckinley of Ohio as the party's presidential candidate. The Democratic convention was a divided one similar to the recent divisions of the Republican party. The majority of Democrats from the south and east supported a more Populist approach, one that included the coinage of a larger amount of silver. The minority of the convention represented the eastern democrats who supported the gold standard and it was still a debate until a speech was made by William Jennings Bryan. Bryan was born in Illinois and was a normal middle-class farmer and he represented the typical American farmer.



The 1896 campaign began what was to become the "Modern Campaign" due to the Republican terror at the idea of a Democratic victory. The Republican campaign ended up costing almost $7 million compared to the $300,000 that the Democrats spent. Mckinley stayed at his home for most of his "campaign" while Bryan traveled accross the country, inspiring some and putting off others.

After the results cam in, Mckinley had won significantly, polling 271 votes to Bryan's 176 and recieved 51.1 percent of the popular vote to Bryans 47.7 percent. With the Populist party putting all of its eggs into the "fusion" with the democratic party, the election results were a disaster and within months the party would dissolve. This meant that the only somewhat successful third party in America's history was a failure and never again would such a party form.