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== Election of 1896 ==

== Election of 1896 ==

As explained earlier in this Lecture, William Jennings Bryan won the Democratic nomination in 1896 with a stirring, but perhaps misguided, speech entitled the "Cross of Gold" (which advocated use of silver).  He united the Populist Party with the Democratic Party by opposing high tariffs, and he ran and lost for president in 1896, 1900 and 1908.  Despite losing repeatedly, he was the single most influential person in the Democratic Party for two decades, and helped secure the Democratic nomination (and election) for Woodrow Wilson in 1912.  Bryan then served as the Secretary of State under Wilson, until Bryan became the first and only Secretary of State to resign entirely based on principle: his moral opposition to World War I.

As explained earlier in this Lecture, William Jennings Bryan won the Democratic nomination in 1896 with a stirring, but perhaps misguided, speech entitled the "Cross of Gold," which advocated use of silver.  He united the Populist Party with the Democratic Party by opposing high tariffs, and he ran and lost for president in 1896, 1900 and 1908.  Despite losing repeatedly, he was the single most influential person in the Democratic Party for two decades, and helped secure the Democratic nomination (and election) of Woodrow Wilson in 1912.  Bryan then served as the Secretary of State under Wilson, until Bryan became the first and only Secretary of State to resign entirely based on principle: his moral opposition to World War I.

Bryan was someone who might be called a "Christian fundamentalist" today.  He adhered to the teachings of the Bible, he supported Prohibition (the banning of alcohol), and he opposed teaching in public schools that humans were somehow the result of evolution.  Bryan also opposed imperialism by the United States.  He had many opponents in the more liberal newspapers, particularly later in life, but no one doubted that he was a man of strong principles.  We will return to his career in a future lecture when we discuss the 1920s.

Bryan was someone who might be called a "Christian fundamentalist" today.  He adhered to the teachings of the Bible, he supported Prohibition (the banning of alcohol), and he opposed teaching in public schools that humans were somehow the result of evolution.  Bryan also opposed imperialism by the United States.  He had many opponents in the more liberal newspapers, particularly later in life, but no one doubted that he was a man of strong principles.  We will return to his career in a future lecture when we discuss the 1920s.

The Populist Party no longer exists today but it had an enormous influence on the development of the United States.  Its platform included demands for the secret ballot, the direct election of senators, the right of citizens to have referenda or initiatives to change their state laws directly (New Jersey voters just passed two laws on Election Day), reforms of banks, and a "graduated" income tax that charges a higher percentage of wealthy people than of poor people.  All of these ideas eventually became law.  The Populist Party was also pro-silver and argued for a government takeover of the railroads.  Many farmers supported the Populist Party, which reached its zenith in the 1890s.  It disappeared because economic conditions improved and because it took an unpopular position against the Spanish-American War (note how wars often end the life of political parties!).

The Populist Party no longer exists today but it had an enormous influence on the development of the United States.  Its platform included demands for the secret ballot, the direct election of senators, the right of citizens to have referenda or initiatives to change their state laws directly (New Jersey voters just passed two laws on Election Day), reforms of banks, and a "graduated" income tax that charges a higher percentage of wealthy people than of poor people.  All of these ideas eventually became law.  The Populist Party was also pro-silver and argued for a government takeover of the railroads.  Many farmers supported the Populist Party, which reached its zenith (peak in power) in the 1890s.  It disappeared because economic conditions improved and because it took an unpopular position against the Spanish-American War (notice how wars often end the life of political parties, as the War of 1812 ended the Federalist Party).

The Republican Party recaptured the White House in 1896, as a Republican from Ohio named William McKinley was elected.  His Irish name helped attract support of large numbers of Scotch-Irish immigrants.  McKinley favored the gold standard.  After being reelected in 1900, he was assassinated in 1901 in Buffalo by an unemployed anarchist, and a 96-foot tall obelisk (a mini-Washington Monument) was built in the center of the Buffalo to honor him.  Teddy Roosevelt, his Vice President, then became President and held power until 1908.

The Republican Party recaptured the White House in 1896, as a Republican from Ohio named William McKinley was elected.  His Irish name helped attract support of large numbers of Scotch-Irish immigrants.  McKinley favored the gold standard.  But after being reelected in 1900, McKinley was assassinated in 1901 in Buffalo by an unemployed anarchist.  A 96-foot tall obelisk (a mini-Washington Monument) was then built in the center of the Buffalo to honor McKinley.  A 42-year-old Teddy Roosevelt, his Vice President, then became the youngest President in American history and held power until 1908.

== Imperialism ==

== Imperialism ==