Difference between revisions of "William Jennings Bryan"
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| − | '''William Jennings Bryan''' (1860-1925) was a | + | [[image:WJBryan.jpg|200px|thumb|The Great Commoner, William Jennings Bryan, 1907.]] |
| + | '''William Jennings Bryan''' (1860<ref>Born on March 19, 1860, in Salem, [[Illinois]].</ref>-1925) was a populist three-time [[Democratic]] presidential nominee, known as "The Great Commoner" due to his strong political support for farmers and laborers, his popular touch, and his deeply held religious beliefs.<ref>http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html</ref><ref>http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/bryan</ref> He was notable for advocating that the United States drop the [[gold standard]] and switch to the inflationary silver standard, a move designed to help farmers and hurt big business. | ||
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| + | '''William Jennings Bryan''' was a gifted orator, one of the finest in all of American history. Trained as a lawyer, Bryan represented the state of [[Nebraska]] in the United States [[Congress]], 1891-95. | ||
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| + | In 1896, Bryan delivered one of the most riveting speeches in all of American history, known as the "Cross of Gold" speech. A phenomenal speaker, Bryan galvanized the national political convention at the young age of only 36. His speech almost single-handedly united the Democratic and Populist parties, thereby laying the foundation for what became the modern [[Democratic Party]]. | ||
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| + | <blockquote>''Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.''</blockquote> | ||
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| + | Bryan was (along with [[Woodrow Wilson]]) the most prominent Democrat in the [[Progressive Era]], and was a leader in many progressive causes, such as anti-trust, peace and prohibition. | ||
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| + | He served as Secretary of State during the Administration of President [[Woodrow Wilson]], and resigned based on his principled opposition to American involvement in [[World War I]]. | ||
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| + | Bryan then toured Europe and became alarmed at the consequences of teaching [[Darwinian evolution]] as he was a devout evangelical. He grew concerned that this theory was the intellectual basis for the massive world wars, and that the theory led to an erroneous view that human races must inevitably fight with each other for survival of the fittest. He feared another world war. | ||
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| + | He argued for the prosecution in the [[Scopes trial]] in in 1925, a case which he won. Already in poor health, he died five days after the trial while taking his afternoon nap after church.<ref>Larson, Edward J. (2006), Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial And America's Continuing Debate over Science And Religion, Basic Books, p. 199</ref> [[Bryan College]], a private Christian college located in Dayton, is named for him. Unfortunately, [[liberal bias]] in plays such as ''[[Inherit the Wind]]'' have cast Bryan as not only the loser, but an ignorant man simply for sticking to logic and his beliefs. Modern Christians remember him for his valiant defense of Christianity in the face of [[deceit]] perpetrated by [[ACLU]] [[lawyer]] [[Clarence Darrow]]. | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <References/> | ||
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | *[http://www.c-span.org/Events/The-Contenders-William-Jennings-Bryan/10737424312/ C-SPAN biography program on William Jennings Bryan] | ||
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| + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Bryan, William Jennings}} | ||
| + | [[Category:United States History]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Progressive Era]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Failed Presidential Candidates]] | ||
Revision as of 02:58, December 26, 2012
William Jennings Bryan (1860[1]-1925) was a populist three-time Democratic presidential nominee, known as "The Great Commoner" due to his strong political support for farmers and laborers, his popular touch, and his deeply held religious beliefs.[2][3] He was notable for advocating that the United States drop the gold standard and switch to the inflationary silver standard, a move designed to help farmers and hurt big business.
William Jennings Bryan was a gifted orator, one of the finest in all of American history. Trained as a lawyer, Bryan represented the state of Nebraska in the United States Congress, 1891-95.
In 1896, Bryan delivered one of the most riveting speeches in all of American history, known as the "Cross of Gold" speech. A phenomenal speaker, Bryan galvanized the national political convention at the young age of only 36. His speech almost single-handedly united the Democratic and Populist parties, thereby laying the foundation for what became the modern Democratic Party.
Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.
Bryan was (along with Woodrow Wilson) the most prominent Democrat in the Progressive Era, and was a leader in many progressive causes, such as anti-trust, peace and prohibition.
He served as Secretary of State during the Administration of President Woodrow Wilson, and resigned based on his principled opposition to American involvement in World War I.
Bryan then toured Europe and became alarmed at the consequences of teaching Darwinian evolution as he was a devout evangelical. He grew concerned that this theory was the intellectual basis for the massive world wars, and that the theory led to an erroneous view that human races must inevitably fight with each other for survival of the fittest. He feared another world war.
He argued for the prosecution in the Scopes trial in in 1925, a case which he won. Already in poor health, he died five days after the trial while taking his afternoon nap after church.[4] Bryan College, a private Christian college located in Dayton, is named for him. Unfortunately, liberal bias in plays such as Inherit the Wind have cast Bryan as not only the loser, but an ignorant man simply for sticking to logic and his beliefs. Modern Christians remember him for his valiant defense of Christianity in the face of deceit perpetrated by ACLU lawyer Clarence Darrow.
References
- ↑ Born on March 19, 1860, in Salem, Illinois.
- ↑ http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html
- ↑ http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/bryan
- ↑ Larson, Edward J. (2006), Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial And America's Continuing Debate over Science And Religion, Basic Books, p. 199
