William Jennings Bryan and the Free Silver Movement
William Jennings Bryan was a determined man. He ran for the presidency three times as the Democratic Party candidate -- in 1896, 1900 and 1908 -- and lost all three times. Nevertheless, many of his ideas have taken hold. Why? In many cases, it was because of Bryan's skills as an orator, or public speaker.
Bryan had the ability to persuade people to think as he did. In 1896 Bryan was able to persuade the Democrats that paper currency, money, did not need to be "backed" by gold. Have you ever had to persuade someone to change his or her mind? Were you successful?
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William Jennings Bryan and the Free Silver Movement
What exactly did he mean that money did not need to be "backed" by gold? Bryan did not think it was necessary for the United States to hold in reserve an amount of gold equal in value to all the paper money in circulation. Bryan wanted the United States to use silver to back the dollar at a value that would inflate the prices farmers received for their crops, easing their debt burden. This position was known as the Free Silver Movement.
At the Democratic National Convention in 1896, Bryan not only persuaded his party that he was right, he also secured the Democrats' nomination for the presidency with his skills as a speaker. Can you guess how Bryan's beliefs about money affected his campaign?
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William Jennings Bryan and the Free Silver Movement
Bryan's opponent, Republican William McKinley, beat Bryan at his own game. His campaign raised far more money than Bryan's did and he was able to persuade voters that dropping the "gold standard" would lead to inflation, rising prices for goods and services. McKinley convinced the people that the Free Silver Movement was a bad idea. As a result, McKinley won the election with 7.1 million votes to Bryan's 6.5 million. But that didn't stop cartoonists from drawing pictures in which Bryan blows away his rival!
Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:22 am
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postcardsfrompalestine VIP
Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 1737 Location: It means good luck - a chinese symbol
I was also blown away when I my eyes and mind opened up to the Wizard of OZ, the Yellow brick road, its Gold, the Wizard of Oz, Ounce of Gold, Oz, the Scarecrow is the Farmer, no brain the Lion is the politician, all talk and no heart, the Tin man was machinery or industry, no heart.
I honestly thought it was just a story, now I wonder how many other stories are tell us something?
