(c.1896) Bryan Money Billy Bryan's Free Silver - United Snakes of America / One Dam (NGC UNC Details)

William Jennings Bryan (Billy Bryan) was a determined man. He ran for the presidency three times as the Democratic Party candidate -- in 1896, 1900 and 1908 -- and lost all three times. Nevertheless, many of his ideas have taken hold. Why? In many cases, it was because of Bryan's skills as an orator, or public speaker.

Bryan had the ability to persuade people to think as he did. In 1896 Bryan was able to persuade the Democrats that paper currency, money, did not need to be "backed" by gold. Have you ever had to persuade someone to change his or her mind? Were you successful?

What exactly did he mean that money did not need to be "backed" by gold? Bryan did not think it was necessary for the United States to hold in reserve an amount of gold equal in value to all the paper money in circulation. Bryan wanted the United States to use silver to back the dollar at a value that would inflate the prices farmers received for their crops, easing their debt burden. This position was known as the Free Silver Movement.

At the Democratic National Convention in 1896, Bryan not only persuaded his party that he was right, he also secured the Democrats' nomination for the presidency with his skills as a speaker. Can you guess how Bryan's beliefs about money affected his campaign?

Bryan's opponent, Republican William McKinley, beat Bryan at his own game. His campaign raised far more money than Bryan's did and he was able to persuade voters that dropping the "gold standard" would lead to inflation, rising prices for goods and services. McKinley convinced the people that the Free Silver Movement was a bad idea. As a result, McKinley won the election with 7.1 million votes to Bryan's 6.5 million. But that didn't stop cartoonists from drawing pictures in which Bryan blows away his rival!

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