William Jennings Bryan

1
William Jennings Bryan

• His life and times

http//projects.vassar.edu/1896/bryan.html
2
The Election of 1896

• After serving two terms as a Congressman from
  Nebraska, Bryan was thrust into the national
  spotlight winning the Democratic nomination from
  an incumbent President Grover Cleveland

http//www.lincolndems.com/graphics/donkey_left.jp
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3
Cross of Gold

• Bryans speech at the Democratic convention
  settles the issue of which way the party stood on
  the FREE SILVER issue and makes him the instant
  nomination for President

http//jefferson.village.virginia.edu/seminar/unit
8/speech.jpg
http//crosswaywebs.com/images/Cross-Gold-Revolvin
g.gif
4
Always the bridesmaid . . .

• Bryan ran again for the Presidency two more times
  and lost every time
• He revolutionized the modern campaign by
  utilizing the stump traveling 8000 miles giving
  600 speeches

http//www.emich.edu/public/geo/exhibits/bryan.jpg
5
. . . never the bride

• In the election of 1912, He deferred running
  again to Woodrow Wilson who wins easily due to
  the Taft-TR split.
• Wilson appoints him to Secretary of State
• Bryan resigns his position in 1915 to protest the
  Presidents shift away from neutrality in WWI

http//www.michaelstory.com/images/woodrow_wilson.
jpg
6
Scopes Trial

• In 1925, Bryan represented the state of Tennessee
  against John Scopes in what becomes known as the
  monkey trial for teaching evolution in public
  schools
• He loses the case but this illustrates the theme
  of his life as the champion of lost causes

http//www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/s
copes/SCOPES.HTM
http//www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/s
copes/bryanattrial.jpg