Figure 1.--This cabinet card shows a smarly dressed boy wearing a double-breasted suit and holding a homberg hast. He has a round McKinley button pinned to his lapel. Politics throughout the 19th century before the movies, radio, and television was a subject of public entertainment in America. The studdio was Sackett's Art Studio, Pittsburg, Kansas. Kansas like most of the southern Plains (non-industrial Midwest) and West would go for Bryan.

The economy dominated the 1896 campaign. The issues included bimetallism, the gold standard, free silver, and the tariff, were crucial. Bimetalism would have enflated the economy which the Democrats believed would create jobs and promote economic growth. Mark Hanna, Bryan's campaign manager, is credited with pioneering with developing modern campaign methods. Bryan and McKinnely not only differed on issues, they had diiferences on campaigning. McKinley campaigned from his home, speaking to reporters from his front porch. He left the camaigning to the Party supportrs. Bryan also dramatically revolutionized American campaign politics. He launching a national whistle-stop effort, making an incediuble 20-30 daily. No one has ever matched that incredible performnce. Hanna used large contributions from eastern Republicans frightened by Bryan's views on silver, McKinley met delegations on his front porch in Canton, Ohio. Bryan proved to be one of the most electrifying losers in American political history. He lost his first campaign to McKinley. Money was a major factor in the campaign. The business community strongly supported McKinnley and the Republicans. Jennings spent about $0.25 million on his campaign. Mark Hanna suceeded in raising 10 times that amount for McKinley. Bryan's incederary rhetoric was essentially a repufiation of the Bourbon Democrats, the Democrats pro-business wing that Prsident Clevelans had supported. The economy in 1896 was improving as America was recovering from the Panic of 1893. Farm prices were also on the upswing. The economy was an important factor. Had the election been held earlier, the results may have been different The Republican gained 110 House sears in 1994, but the advance of Populist ideas may well aided the Democrats in 1896 had the ecomomy not begun to recover.

Created: 9:02 PM 9/22/2018
Last updated: 9:02 PM 9/22/2018