Cross of gold speech definition of cross of gold speech. Cross of gold speech definition of cross of gold speech at. The heyday of the gold standard, 18201930 93 1896 july 9 william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. 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 and the politics of gold us. It was during the platform fight that bryan gave his cross of gold speech. In 1921 25 years after the original speech, he recorded portions of the speech for gennett records in richmond, indiana. This speech, delivered at the democratic national convention, helped win the bryan, former representative to congress for nebraska, the presidential nomination of the democratic party.
Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by. Full text and audio clip of william jennings bryan cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896 introduction.
The speech just isnt as exciting without bryan here to deliver it, and the modern reader isnt apt to know or care as much about the issues. Cross of gold in 1896, three years after the panic of 1893, a man by the name of william jennings bryan delivered one of the most historical speeches to this day. The occasion for bryan s famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. What was the central argument in william jenning bryans cross of gold speech. Fielder, who is currently portraying william jennings bryan in a play in chicago, delivered the speech. William jennings bryan ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1896, 1900 and 1908.
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. Mar 22, 2010 the full text of william jenning bryans famous cross of gold speech appears below. They will tell you anything you want to hear in exchange for your vote and youll vote for anybody that promises you a free meal. In 1896 recording technology was in its infancy, and recording a political convention would have been impossible. He even brings it up as bimetallism 9 in his imperialism speech even after it had been a bit irrelevant for some time. The speech is about the issue of whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. The end of the cross of gold speech contains imagery and analogies that were audacious and direct. But in the early 20th century, the fame of bryans cross of gold speech led him to repeat it numerous times on the chautauqua lecture circuit where he was an enormously popular speaker. William jennings bryan s cross of gold speech notes, test prep materials, and homework help. An analysis of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. While bryan, in 1896, referred to the concerns of farmers, wageearners, and small business owners, he also followed the expectations of the day when he included allusions to history the. The democrats were debating the monetary plank in their platform.
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. Gould, university of texas at austin log in to see the full document and commentary. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryan s nomination for president. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. 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. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.
Bryan s speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. Apr 24, 2020 more than 100 years later, the cross of gold speech moves people sometimes. This simple primary source analysis worksheet features an excerpt from william jennings bryan s famous cross of gold speech from the democratic national convention in 1896. In the late 1800s, william jennings bryan felt that, if money was backed by gold only, the rich would benefit. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech lets begin by analyzing and explaining the theory of metaphoric criticism. Delivered to the democratic national convention at chicago, illinois. William jennings bryan, the final speaker at the convention, delivered an eloquent appeal for unlimited coinage of silver. Bryans cross of gold speech at 1896 democratic national convention, which he concluded with the fiery statement that you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold, secured him the democratic nomination for president in 1896. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross.
Artists conception of william jennings bryan after the cross of gold speech, 1900. Cross of gold speech until 1921, when, at the age of 61, bryan recorded the speech in a studio. The extremely wealthy had much gold and this gave them the ability to have a massive control over the economy. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan video. Cross of gold speech wikisource, the free online library. A metaphor is decoration, ornamentation, and figur. Commenting on this speech see chapter 10, bryan writes. He decried the gold standard, concluding the speech, you shall not crucify. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by william. 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. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryan s most wellknown political speech. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryans most wellknown political speech. In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american fa. Welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech.
A metaphor is decoration, ornamentation, and figurative language to a rhetor. William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us. The occasion for bryans famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. The recording is from 1921, 25 years after he first gave the speech at the. And whether or not the speech had a national impact, it certainly had an impact at the convention, throwing the silver men into a complete frenzy on the floor. That is only one reason why this cross of gold quote is so historically famous. 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. Primary source from william jennings bryans cross of gold speech during the 1896 democratic convention, politicians fiercely debated whether to support the gold standard or bimetallism. Primary source from william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech. The problem was that he would not shut up about it. Bryan, who was seeking the democratic nomination, was a gifted orator, but. More than 100 years later, the cross of gold speech moves people sometimes. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.
Easily access essays and lesson plans from other students and teachers. 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. Its a very famous speech and it was powerfully delivered, and was so popular that for. 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. No doubt this is the most famous and the most effective speech ever delivered at a national party convention. Primary source from william jennings bryan s cross of.
Cross of gold speech definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. 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. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech given at the 1896 democratic convention. Lets begin by analyzing and explaining the theory of metaphoric criticism. 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. 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. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention. William jennings bryan what one of the most famous speeches in u. In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american farmers.
This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryans nomination for president. William jennings bryan delivers a campaign speech, circa 1910. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech notes, test prep materials, and homework help. Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and. 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. Did william jennigs bryans cross of gold speech crash.
William jennings bryan cross of gold speech analysis. Wjb believed abandoning the gold standard could alleviate the severe economic problems of the late 19th century, especially in the wake of the panic. Cross of gold speech william jennings bryan what was the. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. 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. Bryan put himself on the map as one of americas best orators with his cross of gold speech in 1896. 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. Cross of gold speech analysis by jessica joseph on prezi. Anna rottenborn populism assignment anna rottenborn populism assignment. His famous cross of gold speech was about the monetary system of the u.
Bryans cross of gold speech delivered at the democratic national convention in 1896. 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. What was the central argument in william jenning bryan s cross of gold speech. In view of the wide publication of this speech, i may be pardoned for making some reference to it. The speech transformed bryan into a dominant figure in american life. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of. This speech, delivered at the democratic national convention, helped win the bryan, former representative to congress for nebraska, the presidential nomination of th. Feb 12, 2014 this simple primary source analysis worksheet features an excerpt from william jennings bryans famous cross of gold speech from.
Jan 08, 2019 william jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us 101. Bryans plea for the coinage of silver so electrified the convention that it made him the democratic candidate for president. In the late 1800s a populist movement was happening and people were starting to take notice. A metaphor, as defined by aristotle, is the transference of a name from the object to which it has a natural application. Jan 27, 2012 welcome to a series on william jennings bryan s famous 1896 cross of gold speech. The main point of william jennings bryan, cross of gold speech was to secure the nomination of the democratic party and afterwards he himself was carried upon the shoulders of the people. Political corruption and big business practices hurt not only laborers, but also farmers. July 9, 1896 william jennings bryan delivers his cross. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896. William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us 101.
In the address, bryan supported bimetallism or free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. Aug 17, 2015 the speech is about the issue of whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. William jennings bryan was an attorney in the scopes trial and. The speech is best remembered for its final lines defying the financial fat cats of his day and his own party.