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Section 1: The Great Commoner:


The nation was at a crossroads. The American people were never this divided since the brutal civil war a generation ago. The great divide was between rural and urban, worker and employer, the common man and the robber baron. Representing the common man was former Nebraska congressman William Jennings Bryan and representing the interests of the status quo was governor William McKinley of Ohio.


Congressman William Jennings Bryan (D)





Governor William McKinley (R)

The polls were originally in favour of McKinley due to the workers backing him, but when Bryan pledged to "sustain the tariff in the new industries", the urban laborer en mass backed the great commoner, leading Bryan to become the youngest president in history at age 36. Though truth be told, the "China-Man" issue helped tilt the labor scales to Bryan as well. Bryan's running mate was Governor Sylvester Pennoyer of Oregon, who had the backing of the labor unions, who protested against Chinese immigration, and was an anti bourbon democrat. This ticket outraged the bourbons so much some backed Palmer for President from the Gold Democratic Party, but Vice President Adlai Stevenson's quick endorsement of Bryan and Grover Cleveland choosing not to attend Palmers convention helped unify most of the party behind Bryan. John R McLean, a newspaper Titan, used his large newspaper in Ohio to tilt the Buckeye state into Bryan's column, as well as large contributions to the campaign.




Electoral Map for Election of 1896



Bryan-330 (53%)

McKinley-117 (46.5%)

Palmer- 0 (0.5%)


President William Jennings Bryan:




"I am honored to receive the blessings of the people. From the farmers who toil on our blessed land to the workers who go to depths of the Underworld and back day in and day out, I announce that it is of my undue privilege to accept the position the American people have bestowed upon me, the presidency of the United States! (The frenzied glee that came out of those words hit the audience so hard they started jumping up and down and yelling so crazy that it took the army had to calm Bryan's supporters down). To those who have doubts about me, hopefully only due to my youth (the audience chuckles), I say this; I pledge to lower the tariffs for our farmers and middle class's sake, but to sustain those tariffs to a good extent where our workers depend on it. I will not let our workers down! (More cries of enthusiasm. A gunshot in the air was required to calm down the environment). ... And finally, God bless America and may its people prosper!”-President William Jennings Bryan, 1897
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