Full text and audio clip of william jennings bryan cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan american experience official site. Not a member, register for a gilder lehrman account. Times 1925 coverage of william jennings bryans last speech, at the scopes trial. William jennings bryan march 19, 1860 july 26, 1925 was an american orator and politician from nebraska.
Trained as a lawyer, bryan represented the state of nebraska in the united states congress, 189195. Who gave the famous cross of gold speech that advocated. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan video. 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. Born in salem, illinois, march 19, 1860, he graduated from. He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his cross of gold speech that favored free silver, but. During his long career in law and politics, including three unsuccessful bids for the presidency, william jennings bryan gained fame for both his speech making skills and his passion for social reform. He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his cross of gold speech that. Americas silver era, the story of william jennings bryan. Bryans plea for the coinage of silver so electrified the convention that it made him the democratic candidate for president. William jennings bryan gave what many consider one of the most memorable speeches in american political history. Personal life william jennings bryan lived a full and busy personal life. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryans 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. In 1894, bryan worked to unite the democrats and populists. Speeches of william jennings bryan internet archive. William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech when television coverage begins at a presidential nominating convention, it is only a matter of time before some commentator alludes to william jennings bryans cross of gold speech at the 1896 democratic convention as the leading example of an orators ability to sway listeners.
The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryan s most wellknown political speech. On this day in 1896, william jennings bryan delivered his rousing speech as a delegate to the democratic convention declaring that mankind would not be. President woodrow wilson appointed william jennings bryan secretary of state on march 5, 19. Delivered by william jennings bryan at the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago. He did have some successes early on in his career as a politician and a lawyer. An illustration depicting william jennings bryan on the shoulders of state representatives at the democratic national convention in chicago in 1896, moments after he gave his cross of gold.
In the address, bryan supported bimetallism or free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. Unfortunately, no recordings exist of his original speech from 1896. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. Donald trump is no william jennings bryan politico magazine.
What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by. Apr 24, 2020 william jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. William jennings bryan was a populist politician from nebraska. As a congressman, threetime presidential nominee and secretary of state, he was among the most accomplished politicians of his time. William jennings bryan was hardworking, courageous, and noble in moral principles as well as friendly, charming, and optimistic. Learn about his policies, cross of gold speech, and role in the scopes monkey trial. Feb 26, 2018 welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan gave the famous cross of gold speech that advocated for the coinage of silver. I come to speak to you in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty the cause of humanity.
William jennings bryan speaks out against imperialism. William jennings bryan, imperialism 8 august 1900 1 i feel that i owe an apology or explanation to the people who are to listen for the fact that i must read what i am going to say. It was delivered at the democratic national convention in chicago on july 9, 1896. William jennings bryan, gifted orator and threetime presidential candidate was born on march 19, 1860, in salem, 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. This was mostly due to the fact that he had quite the knack for public speaking, wordsmithing, and the g. Educators and parentsguardians of k12 students may now register free for full website access. The famous speech that william jennings bryan gave at the democratic convention of 1896 became known as the cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan pretty much sings john lennons give peace a chance to an american audience debating whether to go to war and annex the philippines.
Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the democratic party, running three times as the partys nominee for president of the united states in the 1896, 1900, and 1908 elections. Bryan was born in salem, illinois on march 19, 1860. Mckinley the republican who wanted gold standard which backed the dollars soley with gold. He was a leading promoter of silverbacked currencies and an ardent opponent of the gold standard. Born in salem, illinois, march 19, 1860, he graduated from continue reading william jennings bryan. When william jennings bryan accepted the invitation of william bell riley to represent the world christian fundamentals association at the scopes trial in dayton, tennessee, the great commoner prepared a grand oration that he intended to deliver as the closing speech for the prosecution. 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 delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by william. Welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. For thirty years the great commoner had been a progressive force in the democratic.
In 1896, he delivered the cross of gold speech at the democratic national convention, and this speech propelled him to great fame. Enjoy the best william jennings bryan quotes at brainyquote. Top 25 quotes by william jennings bryan of 104 az quotes. It would be more pleasant to me and more agreeable to you to speak without notes, but i. William jennings bryan a cross of gold american rhetoric. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and. Historians discussed the role of william jennings bryan as an enterprising figure in american politics. He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his. William jennings bryan, populist leader and orator who ran unsuccessfully three times for u. The famous speech that william jennings bryan gave at the. User account gilder lehrman institute of american history. Share on facebook share on twitter donald trump won millions of followers and, perhaps, the presidency with his blunt and.
Bryans address helped catapult him to the democratic partys presidential nomination. 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. Born in illinois, william jennings bryan 18601925 became a nebraska congressman in 1890. The speech had such enduring popularity that bryan delivered it to attentive audiences many times in the years after. He was a populist who believed strongly in the wisdom of the common man, and he fought against policies that favo. 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. He entered into duty the same day and served as secretary until his resignation on june 9, 1915.
Hear william jennings bryan deliver his cross of gold speech at the democratic national convention william jennings bryans cross of gold speech, given at the democratic national convention, chicago, july 8, 1896. Aug 17, 2015 this is a speech from democratic candidate william jennings bryan, which he originally delivered in 1896. William jennings bryan s cross of gold speech july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago mr. At the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago, william jennings bryan gave a speech that electrified his party. When this debate is concluded, a motion will made to lay upon the table the resolution offered in commendation of the administration, and also the resolution offered in condemnation of the administration. 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. Steve bannon compares donald trump to william jennings. William jennings bryan speaks out against imperialism herb. Video of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech, given at the democratic national convention, chicago, july 8, 1896. At times he really did seem like americas biggest loser. William jennings bryan no doubt this is the most famous and the most effective speech. William jennings bryan, imperialism, teachinglearning. William jennings bryan, imperialism, speech text voices. William jennings bryan american experience official.
This is a speech from democratic candidate william jennings bryan, which he originally delivered in 1896. William jennings bryan stepped off the train at dayton in july of 1925, ready to fight for a righteous cause. Cross of goldwilliam jennings bryan library of congress. Nicknamed the great commoner due to his lifelong dedication to ordinary u. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech britannica. Jun 10, 2019 william jennings bryan a preliminary hearing on may 9, 1925, officially held scopes for trial by the grand jury, though released him and didnt require him to post bond. Bryans cross of gold and the partisan battle over economic policy. 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, classic of american political oratory delivered on july 8, 1896, by william jennings bryan in closing the debate on the party platform at the democratic national convention in chicago during the campaign for the presidential election of 1896. The most famous speech in american political history was delivered by william jennings bryan on july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention in. May 12, 2020 william jennings bryan speaks out against imperialism. William jennings bryan and the scopes monkey trial. Free silver advocate william jennings bryan became the democratic presidential candidate of 1896, delivering the famous cross of gold. What does this quote by william jennings bryan mean. When bryan s plan came across the wire, the top adviser to william mckinley, the republican candidate, was terrified. Republican cartoon criticizing bryans speech the presidential election of 1896 was, without a doubt, the greatest upset of american electoral history. William jennings bryan ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1896, 1900 and 1908.
He served as secretary of state from 19 to 1915 under president woodrow wilson. Cross of gold speech, classic of american political oratory that was delivered by william jennings bryan during the platform debate at the 1896 democratic. 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. Steve bannon compares donald trump to william jennings bryan. He decried the gold standard, concluding the speech, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. Times 1925 coverage of william jennings bryan s last speech, at the scopes trial. The cross of gold speech was delivered by william jennings bryan, a former united states representative from. Recall the suspension of habeas corpus during the civil war, the japanese internment camps during. He spoke for the common man, and so he became known as the great commoner. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryan s nomination for president. William jennings bryan, in his speech to the democratic convention, july 9th, 1896. Bryan was a silvertongued orator and his unprecedented campaign was clearly.
William jennings bryans cross of gold speech july 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago mr. Quotations by william jennings bryan, american lawyer, born march 19, 1860. William jennings bryan ran for president in 1896, 1900, and 1908. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech youtube. It was one of those rare orations that ended with a speaker literally borne away on the shoulders of electrified listeners. Cross of gold speech, classic of american political oratory delivered on july 8, 1896, by william jennings bryan in closing the debate on the party platform at the democratic national convention in chicago during the campaign for the presidential election of 1896 the republican party platform for the election, formulated at its convention in st. The 36yearold bryan, who only served a couple of terms as a congressman. This speech, delivered at the democratic national convention, helped win the bryan, former representative to congress for nebraska, the presidential nomination of th. William jennings bryanthe great commoner, threetime democratic nominee for president, and presbyterian church in the u. Speeches of william jennings bryan by bryan, william jennings, 18601925. Bryan tries everything to convince america that getting all involved in the philippines is a terrible, terrible idea. Some saw him as an ambitious demagogue, others as a champion of liberal causes. William jennings bryan was elected to congress twice, 1890 and 1892. William jennings bryan warned that war and imperialism would be used to justify encroachments on american civil liberties.