USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party’s nominee for President of the United States in the 1896, 1900, and the 1908 elections.

Detailed explanation-2: -Bryan, a former Democratic congressman from Nebraska, gained his party’s presidential nomination in July of that year after electrifying the Democratic National Convention with his Cross of Gold speech. He was defeated in the general election by the Republican candidate, former Ohio governor William McKinley.

Detailed explanation-3: -June 9, 1915 US Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigns from office, as he cannot agree will with President Wilson on actions to be taken upon Germany. June 9, 1915 British newspapers claim that President Wilson’s firm note to Germany, which resulted in Bryan’s resignation, may lead to war.

Detailed explanation-4: -What were William Jennings Bryan’s beliefs? William Jennings Bryan advocated for an “easy money” policy, with unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1 to gold. This identified him with agrarian interests, in opposition to urban East coast businessmen who favoured the gold standard.

Detailed explanation-5: -In his address, Bryan supported “free silver” (i.e. bimetallism), which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. He decried the gold standard, concluding the speech, “you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold".