AHC: Benjamin Harrison wins in 1892

kernals12

Banned
With a POD after 1889 make Benjamin Harrison win reelection in 1892 against Grover Cleveland. If Harrison wins, it gives the Republicans the blame for the panic of 1893 and almost certainly gives us President William Jennings Bryan in 1896, which would be a very good thing.
 
The Democrats would not be any less divided in this 1896 than they were in our own. WJB is far from guaranteed nomination, let alone victory.
 
It would be Bryan vs McKinley no Bryan vs Harrison
There's no guarantee that McKinley would be the GOP nominee, and, if you're arguing that Harrison's economic policy would have been ruinous then the last thing the parties would do i nominate tickets advocating for the same ruinous policies.

To be honest, I think if Harrison's second term goes badly due to embrace of 'free silver', John Palmer gets the Democratic nomination in 1896.
 

kernals12

Banned
There's no guarantee that McKinley would be the GOP nominee, and, if you're arguing that Harrison's economic policy would have been ruinous then the last thing the parties would do i nominate tickets advocating for the same ruinous policies.

To be honest, I think if Harrison's second term goes badly due to embrace of 'free silver', John Palmer gets the Democratic nomination in 1896.
A. When did I say Harrison would embrace free silver?
B. The Republicans wholeheartedly embraced the gold standard that caused the panic.
 
A. When did I say Harrison would embrace free silver?
B. The Republicans wholeheartedly embraced the gold standard that caused the panic.
Cleveland's embrace of gold in his second term saved the country in the long term. If you're saying Harrison charts a similar course, then fine, but the economic effects would not be different, and Bryan was a lightning rod.
 

kernals12

Banned
Cleveland's embrace of gold in his second term saved the country in the long term. If you're saying Harrison charts a similar course, then fine, but the economic effects would not be different, and Bryan was a lightning rod.
The Gold Standard is universally regarded by economists as being a disaster and that eliminating it was crucial in ending the great depression.
 
Actually, it took the entire Democratic establishment being utterly discredited for Bryan to win. I think instead we'd see the silver Democrats be stronger in the run up and be fully united behind someone like Richard Bland or maybe they'll find a compromise candidate. Bryan is not really guaranteed at all.
 
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