The main point of william jennings bryan, cross of gold speech was to secure the nomination of the democratic party and afterwards he himself was carried upon the shoulders of the people. Sep 11, 2014 the main point of william jennings bryan, cross of gold speech was to secure the nomination of the democratic party and afterwards he himself was carried upon the shoulders of the people. Wjb believed abandoning the gold standard could alleviate the severe economic problems of the late 19th century, especially in the wake of the panic. Mar 15, 2012 the most famous portion of william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech originally delivered at the 1896 democratic convention. The occasion for bryans famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. Fielder, who is currently portraying william jennings bryan in a play in chicago, delivered the speech. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech andrew. What was the occasion for which william jennings bryan gave his cross of gold speech.
Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan video. This speech, delivered at the democratic national convention, helped win the bryan, former representative to congress for nebraska, the presidential nomination of th. 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. 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. He vehemently oposed the gold standard, and famously said, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. William jennings bryan first delivered his cross of gold speech at the democratic national convention in chicago, it had such impact that bryan was asked to give his speech more times. Why was william jennings bryan so against the gold s. 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. The cross of gold speech, by william jennings bryan 1923. With just the gold standard, the moneys supply was severely restricted. A speech delivered by william jennings bryan at the democratic national convention in chicago that occurred in 1896.
William jennings bryan author of the price of a soul. Bryan, who was seeking the democratic nomination, was. Oct 14, 2008 william jennings bryan delivers a campaign speech, circa 1910. William jennings bryan ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1896, 1900 and 1908. Bryan gave many of his speeches off of the back of old boxcars to the people, which enabled him to create a favorable image. Bryans cross of gold speech constitutional money advocate. The problem was that he would not shut up about it. Bryans plea for the coinage of silver so electrified the convention that it made him the democratic candidate for president. His famous cross of gold speech was about the monetary system of the u.
Sep 24, 20 william jennings bryans cross of gold speech by berthold gambrel on september 24, 20 september 24, 20 because of this post and p. Cross of gold speech william jennings bryan this quote was added by malevolarky when you come before us and tell us that we shall disturb your business interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your action. This simple primary source analysis worksheet features an excerpt from william jennings bryans famous cross of gold speech from the democratic national convention in 1896. Read the quotation from william jennings bryans cross of. 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. In 1896, william jennings bryan ran unsuccessfully for president of the united states.
American political tradition richard hofstadter william jennings bryan. Cross of gold speech 1896 log in to see the full document and commentary. Typing test william jennings bryan cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryans most wellknown political speech. The cross of gold speech excerpt originally delivered by william jennings bryan at the national democratic convention, july 9, 1896. The cross of gold speech was delivered by william jennings bryan, a former united states representative from nebraska, at the democratic national. Bryan put himself on the map as one of americas best orators with his cross of gold speech in.
William jennings bryan 1896 presidential campaign wikipedia. Feb 26, 2018 welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were mere measuring of abilities. Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. July 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago. In view of the wide publication of this speech, i may be pardoned for making some reference to it. This is a rereading of the speech, most likely specifically. Farmers and common people, along with bryan, wanted money to be backed by silver and gold, this was called bimetallism. The digital public library of america brings together the riches of americas libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world. They will tell you anything you want to hear in exchange for your vote and youll vote for anybody that promises you a free meal. The gold standard hurts every worker in the united states.
William jennings bryan quotes author of the price of a soul. Famous nebraskan, william jennings bryan, was committed to increasing. Check out cross of gold speech 1896 by william jennings bryan on amazon music. Aug 17, 2015 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. 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. He even brings it up as bimetallism 9 in his imperialism speech even after it had been a bit irrelevant for some time.
Commenting on this speech see chapter 10, bryan writes. The speech had such enduring popularity that bryan delivered it to attentive audiences many times in the years after. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by william. Apr 24, 2020 william jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. Speaking during the platform debate at the 1896 democratic convention, nebraskas famous orator william. William jennings bryan american political traditionrichard.
An excerpt from william jennings bryans cross of gold. William jennings bryan was an attorney in the scopes trial and. 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. Delivered to the democratic national convention at chicago, illinois. Cross of gold speech analysis by jessica joseph on prezi. Cross of gold speech at the democratic national convention in chicago in 1897. William jennings bryan nebraska department of education. Historians discussed the role of william jennings bryan as an enterprising figure in american politics.
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. William jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech by berthold gambrel on september 24, 20 september 24, 20 because of this post and p. 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. William jennings bryan, the final speaker at the convention, delivered an. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. 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. How did william jennings bryans cross of gold speech prove. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention, winning the nomination for the. William jennigs bryan s cross of gold speech was full of strong points and many weaknesses for the populists. In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american farmers.
The cross of gold speech is one of the most historically famous speeches ever, to this day. Pictured to the left, bryan is holding a cross of gold, an image related to his famous speech. Cross of gold speech, july 9, 1896, democratic national convention, chicago. It was one of those rare orations that ended with a speaker literally borne away on the shoulders of electrified listeners. 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. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. The cross of gold speech made bryan famous due to its eloquence and sense of conviction. Gould, university of texas at austin log in to see the full document and commentary.
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. 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. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of. Primary source from william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech.
Bryan supported bimetallism, or free silver, which he believed would bring the naiton prosperity. Welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech analysis worksheet. Cross of gold speech william jennings bryan this quote was added by malevolarky i say it was not a question of persons. Cross of gold speech wikisource, the free online library. Cross of gold speech 1896 by william jennings bryan on. As with many 19th century speeches, bryans cross of gold oration appeals to virtue and justice, using historical and biblical connections to illustrate principles. William jennings bryan, the final speaker at the convention, delivered an eloquent appeal for unlimited coinage of silver. Cross of gold speech william jennings bryan what was the. The most famous portion of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech originally delivered at the 1896 democratic convention. During william jennings bryans pursuit of the democratic nomination, he gave the cross of gold speech. Artists conception of william jennings bryan after the cross of gold speech, 1900.
It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. William jennings bryan 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. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention. Primary source from william jennings bryan s cross of. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryan s most wellknown political speech. 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 bryans cross of gold speech july 1896. The democrat as revivalist cross of gold speech 1896 religious imagery, revivalist fervour, electric reaction upon the audience his typical constituent was the longsuffering staple farmer of the west and south inflation meant that debts cost more to pay back now silver campaign was a struggle between. 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. The cross of gold speech was a speech delivered by william jennings bryan at the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago.
Bryan put himself on the map as one of americas best orators with his cross of gold speech in 1896. 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. Apr 06, 2008 the cross of gold speech was a speech delivered by william jennings bryan at the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago. 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. 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. 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. The cross of gold speech was a drawn sword that heralded the battle between good and evil. Owen collection, 191946, bryans cross of gold speech constitutional money advocate, volume 1, number 6.
The heyday of the gold standard, 18201930 93 1896 july 9 william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. William jennigs bryans cross of gold speech was full of strong points and many weaknesses for the populists. In the address, bryan supported bimetallism or free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. William jennings bryan and the politics of gold us history. 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.
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