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. Jan 08, 2019 william jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us 101. In view of the wide publication of this speech, i may be pardoned for making some reference to it. 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 cross of gold speech lets begin by analyzing and explaining the theory of metaphoric criticism.
Its a very famous speech and it was powerfully delivered, and was so popular that for. In the address, bryan supported bimetallism or free silver, which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. Anna rottenborn populism assignment anna rottenborn populism assignment. William jennings bryan what one of the most famous speeches in u. 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. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross. The end of the cross of gold speech contains imagery and analogies that were audacious and direct. July 9, 1896 william jennings bryan delivers his cross. William jennings bryan and the politics of gold us.
The recording is from 1921, 25 years after he first gave the speech at the. Bryans cross of gold speech delivered at the democratic national convention in 1896. 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. A metaphor, as defined by aristotle, is the transference of a name from the object to which it has a natural application. Primary source from william jennings bryan s cross of.
He even brings it up as bimetallism 9 in his imperialism speech even after it had been a bit irrelevant for some time. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech analysis. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896. In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american fa. Fielder, who is currently portraying william jennings bryan in a play in chicago, delivered the speech.
More than 100 years later, the cross of gold speech moves people sometimes. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryans nomination for president. 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. Jan 27, 2012 welcome to a series on william jennings bryan s famous 1896 cross of gold speech.
That is only one reason why this cross of gold quote is so historically famous. Cross of gold speech definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. What was the central argument in william jenning bryan s cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan was an attorney in the scopes trial and. Primary source from william jennings bryan s cross of gold speech. Delivered to the democratic national convention at chicago, illinois. Bryan, who was seeking the democratic nomination, was a gifted orator, but. This article appeared on wikipedia s main page as todays featured article on july 9, 2012.
The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryans most wellknown political speech. Easily access essays and lesson plans from other students and teachers. Bryan put himself on the map as one of americas best orators with his cross of gold speech in 1896. The speech transformed bryan into a dominant figure in american life. An analysis of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. William jennings bryan s cross of gold speech notes, test prep materials, and homework help. Feb 12, 2014 this simple primary source analysis worksheet features an excerpt from william jennings bryans famous cross of gold speech from. Young william jennings bryan became famous overnight with the speech he delivered at the democratic national convention. 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. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so. The extremely wealthy had much gold and this gave them the ability to have a massive control over the economy. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns.
A metaphor is decoration, ornamentation, and figur. William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. 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. Cross of gold speech wikisource, the free online library. The occasion for bryans famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. William jennings bryan, the final speaker at the convention, delivered an eloquent appeal for unlimited coinage of silver. Cross of gold speech, classic of american political oratory that was delivered by william jennings bryan during the platform debate at the 1896 democratic national convention in chicago. This speech quickly became one of the most famous in american history, and led to bryan s nomination for president. Lets begin by analyzing and explaining the theory of metaphoric criticism. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. In 1896 recording technology was in its infancy, and recording a political convention would have been impossible. 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.
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. 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. Mar 22, 2010 the full text of william jenning bryans famous cross of gold speech appears below. Feb 26, 2018 welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. Full text and audio clip of william jennings bryan cross of gold speech. 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. No doubt this is the most famous and the most effective speech ever delivered at a national party convention. Cross of gold speech by william jennings bryan video. Apr 24, 2020 more than 100 years later, the cross of gold speech moves people sometimes. Artists conception of william jennings bryan after the cross of gold speech, 1900.
The occasion for bryan s famous cross of gold speech was the democratic national convention in chicago on july 8, 1896. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by william. 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. Political corruption and big business practices hurt not only laborers, but also farmers. It was during the platform fight that bryan gave his cross of gold speech. The problem was that he would not shut up about it. Welcome to a series on william jennings bryans famous 1896 cross of gold speech. Excerpts from the text of william jennings bryans cross of gold speech given at the 1896 democratic convention. The heyday of the gold standard, 18201930 93 1896 july 9 william jennings bryans cross of gold speech. Bryan s speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. William jennings bryans cross of gold speech notes, test prep materials, and homework help. 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. A metaphor is decoration, ornamentation, and figurative language to a rhetor. 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.
What was the central argument in william jenning bryans cross of gold speech. 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. Cross of gold speech until 1921, when, at the age of 61, bryan recorded the speech in a studio. The digital public library of america brings together the riches of americas libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world. 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. Bryans plea for the coinage of silver so electrified the convention that it made him the democratic candidate for president. 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.
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. 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. What was the purpose of the cross of gold speech by. This speech, delivered at the democratic national convention, helped win the bryan, former representative to congress for nebraska, the presidential nomination of th. William jennings bryan ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1896, 1900 and 1908. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Did william jennigs bryans cross of gold speech crash. Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and won him his partys presidential nomination. Cross of gold speech primary source analysis by william. The cross of gold speech made bryan famous due to its eloquence and sense of conviction.
William jennings bryan delivers a campaign speech, circa 1910. In the speech, bryan explains his support for bimetallism or free silver and how it would bring prosperity to american farmers. William jennings bryan cross of gold speech july 8, 1896 introduction. 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. In the late 1800s, william jennings bryan felt that, if money was backed by gold only, the rich would benefit. His famous cross of gold speech was about the monetary system of the u. In the late 1800s a populist movement was happening and people were starting to take notice. Cross of gold speech william jennings bryan what was the. 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. Gould, university of texas at austin log in to see the full document and commentary. He decried the gold standard, concluding the speech, you shall not crucify. Cross of gold speech definition of cross of gold speech at.
Bryans speech, which electrified the delegates to the convention, and. William jennings bryan and the cross of gold speech us 101. The democrats were debating the monetary plank in their platform. Commenting on this speech see chapter 10, bryan writes. 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. Cross of gold speech analysis by jessica joseph on prezi. The speech is best remembered for its final lines defying the financial fat cats of his day and his own party. 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. Cross of gold speech definition of cross of gold speech. Wjb believed abandoning the gold standard could alleviate the severe economic problems of the late 19th century, especially in the wake of the panic. In 1921 25 years after the original speech, he recorded portions of the speech for gennett records in richmond, indiana. The cross of gold speech is william jennings bryan s most wellknown political speech.
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