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 was delivered by william jennings bryan, a former united states representative from nebraska, at the democratic national convention in chicago on july 9, 1896. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan 1896 the wonderful wizard of oz by l. Find out more about the history of william jennings bryan, including videos, get all the facts on.
In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american fa. It was delivered at the 1896 democratic national convention. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. It was bryan s part of a conventionwide debate over monetary policy. Cross of gold speech definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. An excerpt from william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan delivers cross of gold speech his speech to the convention was an appeal to one of the worst instincts of the human heartthat of getting possession. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech analysis. Bryan, who was seeking the democratic nomination, was. Bryans plea for the coinage of silver so electrified the convention that it made him the democratic candidate for president. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech youtube. 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.
Cross of gold speech wikisource, the free online library. William jennings bryan american experience official. William jennings bryan, the final speaker at the convention, delivered an eloquent appeal for unlimited coinage of silver. This speech was given during the 1896 democratic national convention. No doubt this is the most famous and the most effective speech ever delivered at a national party convention. William jennings bryan lost the election of 1896, and gold discoveries in the. 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. The main concern of bryan and others was representation of rural and farming interests during a period when political. Cross of gold speech featuring document text, summary, and expert commentary. One of the most popular speakers in american history, he was noted for a deep, commanding voice. Cross of gold speech analysis by jessica joseph on prezi. Supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toilers. What makes the speech of william jennings bryan so.
Get indepth analysis of every man a king, with this section on william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech july 9, 1896. If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we will fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world. Welcome to a series on william jennings bryan s famous 1896 cross of gold speech. 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.
He married mariah, a former student of his at mckendree college, in 1852. Get indepth analysis of every man a king, with this section on william jennings bryans cross of gold speech july 9, 1896. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896 introduction. Bryan, william jennings, 18601925 download pdf view full text. Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. Citation information bryan, william jennings, excerpts from speeches of william. Primary source from william jennings bryans cross of gold speech during the 1896 democratic convention, politicians fiercely debated whether to support the gold standard or bimetallism. Bryan, a former democratic congressman from nebraska, gained his partys presidential nomination in july of that year after electrifying the democratic national convention with his cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan was an attorney in the scopes trial and. William jennings bryan s cross of gold speech july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago mr. The occasion for bryan s famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were mere measuring of abilities. Cross of goldwilliam jennings bryan library of congress. 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.
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. Get ready to use this quiz to test what you know about the cross of gold speech. 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 what one of the most famous speeches in u. Donald trump is no william jennings bryan politico magazine. 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. William jennings bryan nebraska department of education. Richard hofstadter, a,historian, says this speech is probably the most effective speech in the history of american party politics. The cross of gold speech was a drawn sword that heralded the battle between good and evil. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896.
How did william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. Cross of gold speech at the democratic national convention in chicago in 1897. Mar 07, 2018 william jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. Of scotsirish and english ancestry, silas bryan was an avid jacksonian democrat. A moderately wellknown delegate before he gave the speech, william jennings bryan went on to win the democratic presidential nomination that year. 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. Has the famous populist cross of gold speech been unfairly tarred by antisemitism. Cross of gold speech definition of cross of gold speech at. How did william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech prove to be both a strength and a weakness of the populists. Full text and audio clip of william jenning s bryan cross of gold speech. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan video.
William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us. In 1896, william jennings bryan ran unsuccessfully for president of the united states. William jennings bryan s cross of gold speech is often considered one of the most famous speeches in american political history. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech britannica. Historians discussed the role of william jennings bryan as an enterprising figure in american politics.
Feb 26, 2018 welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. We reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan free. Our flexible, affordable, entirely digital readers help you focus your classroom on primary sources. Bryan s speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination.
William jennings bryan was a famous nebraskan politician and speaker of the 19th and 20th centuries. Bryan, who was seeking the democratic nomination, was a gifted orator, but his cross of gold analogy is what really won the day. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech given at the 1896 democratic convention. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention, winning the nomination for the. The cross of gold speech the speech that won william jennings bryan his nomination as the democratic candidate for the presidential elections of 1896. The speech had such enduring popularity that bryan delivered it to attentive audiences many times in the years after. 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. 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. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan genius. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross. William jennings bryan, cross of gold speech 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 bryans cross of gold speech andrew. 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.
The free silver movement and inflation federal reserve bank of. The heyday of the gold standard, 18201930 93 1896 july 9 william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. Bryans cross of gold speech to relate the historical context. Delivered to the democratic national convention at chicago, illinois. At the time, the democratic party wanted to standardize the value of the dollar to silver and opposed pegging the value of the united states dollar to a gold standard. It was one of those rare orations that ended with a speaker literally borne away on the shoulders of electrified listeners. Quotes from william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech. In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american farmers.
What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by william. The speech is about the issue of whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryan s nomination for president. The democrats were debating the monetary plank in their platform. 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. Bryan s plea for the coinage of silver so electrified the convention that it made him the democratic candidate for president. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech given at the 1896 democratic convention. 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. He could speak at great length on any topic, using powerful imagery, often of a religious nature, to audiences raised on such language and imagery. Bryan supported bimetallism, or free silver, which he believed would bring the naiton prosperity. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. William jennigs bryan s cross of gold speech was full of strong points and many weaknesses for the populists.
How did william jennings bryans cross of gold speech prove. In the address, bryan supported bimetallism or free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. 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. Silas bryan had been born in 1822 and had established a legal practice in salem in 1851. 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.
William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 9, 1896. Bryans cross of gold speech constitutional money advocate. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech analysis worksheet. July 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago. July 9 marks the 120th anniversary of populist leader william jennings bryan s famous cross of gold speech at the 1896 democratic national convention.
He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his cross of gold speech that favored if they could not resolve a dispute, they would wait a year before going to war and would seek outside factfinding. The united states and the philippine islands by rudyard kipling 1899 the winning of the west by theodore roosevelt 1889. Commenting on this speech see chapter 10, bryan writes. William jennings bryan was born in salem, illinois, on march 19, 1860, to silas lillard bryan and mariah elizabeth jennings bryan. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of. Cross of gold speech, july 9, 1896, democratic national convention, chicago. Bryan was the last of the great political orators in some ways. As with many 19th century speeches, bryans cross of gold oration appeals to virtue and justice, using historical and biblical connections to illustrate principles. Bryan s scathing denunciation of attempts by the great cities to impose a gold standard his cross of gold speech at the. This is a rereading of the speech, most likely specifically. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention. Study guide and teaching aid for william jennings bryan.
Learn the important quotes in cross of gold speech and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. Go here for more about bryan s cross of gold speech it follows the full text transcript of william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech, delivered at chicago, illinois july 8, 1896. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by. Born in illinois, william jennings bryan 18601925 became a nebraska congressman in 1890. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech 1896 1921. 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 was a mere measuring of abilities.
Apr 06, 2008 the cross of gold speech was a speech delivered by william jennings bryan at the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago. At milestone documents, we believe that engaging with historys original voices is exciting for students and liberating for instructors. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryan. What does this quote by william jennings bryan mean. 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. Delivered by william jennings bryan at the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago. Famous nebraskan, william jennings bryan, was committed to increasing.
William jennings bryan 1896 presidential campaign wikipedia. In view of the wide publication of this speech, i may be pardoned for making some reference to it. He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his cross of gold speech. You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard. Bitcoin is actually the oppisite of gold in this senseits deflationary, just like gold, and would actually be exactly the kind of money wjb. Tell me 2 similarities between the cross of gold speech. This simple primary source analysis worksheet features an excerpt from william jennings bryan s famous cross of gold speech from the democratic national convention in 1896. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech july 1896. A speech delivered by william jennings bryan at the democratic national convention in chicago that occurred in 1896.
A lithograph of william jennings bryan titled the issue1900. The cross of gold speech excerpt, by william jennings bryan. 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. Primary source from william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan and the politics of gold us history. 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. Artists conception of william jennings bryan after the cross of gold speech, 1900. William mckinley accepts the republican nomination. Mar 15, 2012 the most famous portion of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech originally delivered at the 1896 democratic convention.
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