1896
Industrial America chooses a direction
Republican William McKinley defeated populist Democrat William Jennings Bryan in a watershed election that realigned American politics for a generation. Bryan, fusing the Democratic and Populist parties, electrified the nation with his 'Cross of Gold' speech demanding free silver coinage to help debtors. McKinley ran a front-porch campaign funded by industrialist Mark Hanna, appealing to urban workers and business interests with promises of prosperity through high tariffs. The Republican Party would dominate presidential politics for the next 36 years.
Gold standard vs. free silver; tariff protection vs. agrarian relief
'Cross of Gold' election; realigned politics for a generation toward Republican dominance
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