William jennings bryan cross of gold speech analysis. Cross of gold speech, classic of american political oratory that was delivered by william jennings bryan during the platform debate at the 1896 democratic. This speech is considered one to the most well known political speeches. The digital public library of america brings together the riches of americas libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world. In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american fa. Why was william jennings bryan so against the gold s. 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. In the address, bryan supported bimetallism or free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. Cross of gold speech analysis by jessica joseph on prezi. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryan s nomination for president. The speech transformed bryan into a dominant figure in american life. The heyday of the gold standard, 18201930 93 1896 july 9 william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. At milestone documents, we believe that engaging with historys original voices is exciting for students and.
Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. Bryans cross of gold speech to relate the historical context. William jennings bryan ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1896, 1900 and 1908. During the democratic convention william jennings bryan delivered the cross of gold speech. The democrats were debating the monetary plank in their platform. William jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. 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. The recording is from 1921, 25 years after he first gave the speech at the democratic convention. This is a rereading of the speech, most likely specifically. Mar 15, 2012 the most famous portion of william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech originally delivered at the 1896 democratic convention. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and.
The speech had such enduring popularity that bryan delivered it to attentive audiences many times in the years after. Gould, university of texas at austin log in to see the full document and commentary. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention. 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. Some saw him as an ambitious demagogue, others as a champion of liberal causes. Many political analysts believe that the cross of gold speech is what won william jennings bryan the democratic nomination. The most famous portion of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech originally delivered at the 1896 democratic convention. 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. William jennings bryan 18601925, a former nebraska congressman, was a highprofile critic of the gold standard and made it the topic of his address to the democratic convention in chicago, illinois, in 1896. Cross of gold speech 1896 log in to see the full document and commentary.
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 also an audio recording of bryan himself giving excerpts from it. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech youtube. Silas bryan had been born in 1822 and had established a legal practice in salem in 1851. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by. The cross of gold speech made bryan famous due to its eloquence and sense of conviction. Summary, 1 for significance, and 1 for paragraph requirement. 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. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by william. 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. The problem was that he would not shut up about it. 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. The speech is best remembered for its final lines defying the financial fat cats of his day and his own party. Feb 26, 2018 welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech.
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. Learn about his policies, cross of gold speech, and role in the scopes monkey trial. Cross of gold speech, july 9, 1896, democratic national convention, chicago. Jul 06, 2016 the speech is best remembered for its final lines defying the financial fat cats of his day and his own party. With just the gold standard, the moneys supply was severely restricted.
He even brings it up as bimetallism 9 in his imperialism speech even after it had been a bit irrelevant for some time. I look forward to meeting all of you and anticipate an exciting school. William jennings bryan march 19, 1860 july 26, 1925 was an american orator and politician from nebraska. The occasion for bryan s famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech analysis worksheet. Of scotsirish and english ancestry, silas bryan was an avid jacksonian democrat.
Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross. This speech, delivered at the democratic national convention, helped win the bryan, former representative to congress for nebraska, the presidential nomination of th. Aug 25, 2007 free silver advocate william jennings bryan became the democratic presidential candidate of 1896, delivering the famous cross of gold speech denouncing the gold standard. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. People wanted quick solutions to the economic crisis and the support of free silver coinage began to rise in 1894. 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. A metaphor, as defined by aristotle, is the transference of a name from the object to which it has a natural application. Bryan, who was seeking the democratic nomination, was a gifted orator, but. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. Get indepth analysis of every man a king, with this section on william jennings bryans cross of gold speech july 9, 1896. Bitcoin is actually the oppisite of gold in this senseits deflationary, just like gold, and would actually be exactly the kind of money wjb.
Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech given at the 1896 democratic convention. Historians discussed the role of william jennings bryan as an enterprising figure in american politics. It was one of those rare orations that ended with a speaker literally borne away on the shoulders of electrified listeners. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryans most wellknown political speech. Mckinley the republican who wanted gold standard which backed the dollars soley with gold. This study guide for william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Cross of gold speech definition of cross of gold speech. The united states and the philippine islands by rudyard kipling 1899 the winning of the west by theodore roosevelt 1889. An analysis of william jennings bryans cross of gold. 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.
A metaphor is decoration, ornamentation, and figur. 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. The cross of gold speech is one of the most historically famous speeches ever, to this day. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.
How did william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. July 9, 1896, at the democratic national convention, chicago. Cross of gold speech definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. 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 22, 2011 the cross of gold speech is one of the most historically famous speeches ever, to this day. He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his cross of gold speech that favored free silver, but. Delivered to the democratic national convention at chicago, illinois. Cross of gold speech 1896 by william jennings bryan on. 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.
Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan genius. An excerpt from william jennings bryans cross of gold. No doubt this is the most famous and the most effective speech ever delivered at a national party convention. One major pressing issue during the time of this election was the dispute on american currency. William jennings bryan lost the election of 1896, and gold discoveries in the. He decried the gold standard, concluding the speech, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross. Full text and audio clip of william jenning s bryan cross of gold speech. Edgar howard, a member of the nebraska delegation to the 1896 democratic national. Cross of gold speech, flailing the gold democrats for. Bryan s speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. 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. William jennings bryan what one of the most famous speeches in u. 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. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech andrew.
Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan 1896 the wonderful wizard of oz by l. Apr 24, 2020 william jennings bryan delivered his cross of gold speech for the first time in 1896. Click here to request a free trial account only available to college instructors primary source readers. 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. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896 introduction. Born in illinois, william jennings bryan 18601925 became a nebraska congressman in 1890. The occasion for bryans famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. Cross of goldwilliam jennings bryan library of congress. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.
Has the famous populist cross of gold speech been unfairly. He starred at the 1896 democratic convention with his. Welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. He married mariah, a former student of his at mckendree college, in 1852. This study guide for william jennings bryans cross of gold speech offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Check out cross of gold speech 1896 by william jennings bryan on amazon music.
Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan video. The cross of gold speech was delivered by william jennings bryan, a former united states representative from nebraska, at the democratic national. At the 1896 democratic convention bryan delivered his famous cross of gold speech, which propelled him ahead of the frontrunner richard bland as the. William jennigs bryans cross of gold speech was full of strong points and many weaknesses for the populists. 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. Sharpen your understanding of this speech by completing the lesson titled cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech lets begin by analyzing and explaining the theory of metaphoric criticism.
593 228 1237 1568 599 849 350 292 742 1254 1537 1141 1528 527 972 685 1364 1278 644 207 1390 849 286 1603 1007 818 817 1042 1138 1131 1156 383 769 343 951 842 1156 126 502 685