Election of 1896
  • Democratic nominee
    • William Jennings Bryan, 36
    • “Cross of Gold” speech
    • Platform:
      • Free silver
      • Income tax
      • Condemned trusts
      • Opposed injunctions used against labor (think Debs)
    • Populists joined Democrats in 1896
  • Republican nominee
    • William McKinley
    • Mark Hanna, campaign manager
      • Depicted Bryan as a “wild man,” an “irresponsible inflationist”
      • $0.52 dollar
    • “front porch campaign”
    • people visited McKinley’s home to hear him speak
  • Results
    • McKinley wins
    • South and West vs. North and East (conservative democrats, liberal republicans, compared to now)
    • International gold discoveries end deflation
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