This is my first serious attempt at a TL. It will be about the US Presidential Election of 1896 and it's worldwide consequences. I put it in the "After 1900" forum, even though it's POD is in 1896, as most of the TL will take place in the 20th century. Although the POD takes place in the US, This is not a US-Centric Timeline, the rising and setting suns refer to other nations that will figure significantly in this TL.
Part I, An American Icon
(Republican cartoon criticizing Bryan's speech)
Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech is perhaps the most defining speech in American History, barring the great speeches of Lincoln and the founding fathers. It's theme was a subject that few Americans care about today, but was an issue of great importance to America in 1896. The election of 1896 was a decisive one, one that would forever change the course of American history, as well as world history. On one side was William McKinley, the Republican nominee, supporter of the Gold Standard, and friend of big business. On the other side was William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic nominee, supporter of silver, and friend of the farmer and laborer. The election saw the victory of Bryan, whose administration would pursue various controversial economic, social, and foreign policies, some successful, others not. During his time in office, people either loved him or hated him, there wasn't much middle ground. He was one of America's most polarizing Presidents, second only to President McCarthy. Whatever one's opinion of Bryan is, there is no denying that he is one of the most, if not the most, defining Presidents in the history of the United States.
-Excerpt from The Guide to the Executive Mansion, an in Depth Look at America's Presidents by Benjamin Buckley, Harvard Press, 1999.
Bryan was a tireless campaigner, in contrast with McKinley's "Front Porch Campaign." McKinley didn't have the charisma or energy that Bryan had, which worked to Bryan's advantage. On November 3rd, 1896, the voters chose Bryan over McKinley 52-46%. Bryan was elected as the 25th President of the United States. Arthur Sewall was elected as America's 24th Vice President. Bryan and his supporters planned on pushing great reforms for the country, but would find a hostile Congress blocking their way. America was divided as ever, and the task fell to Bryan to bring the country together.
Bryan/Sewall 263 EV, 52.3% of popular vote
McKinley/Hobart 184 EV, 46.5% of popular vote
Mattchet/Maguire 0 EV, 1.1% of popular vote
coming soon: Bryan battles with Congress and international affairs.
Part I, An American Icon
-William Jennings Bryan, in his speech to the Democratic Convention, July 9th, 1896.My friends, we declare that this nation is able to legislate for its own people on every question, without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation on earth; and upon that issue we expect to carry every State in the Union. I shall not slander the inhabitants of the fair State of Massachusetts nor the inhabitants of the State of New York by saying that, when they are confronted with the proposition, they will declare that this nation is not able to attend to its own business. It is the issue of 1776 over again. Our ancestors, when but three millions in number, had the courage to declare their political independence of every other nation; shall we, their descendants, when we have grown to seventy millions, declare that we are less independent than our forefathers? No, my friends, that will never be the verdict of our people. Therefore, we care not upon what lines the battle is fought. If they say bimetallism is good, but that we cannot have it until other nations help us, we reply that, instead of having a gold standard because England has, we will restore bimetallism, and then let England have bimetallism because the United States has it. If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we will fight them to the uttermost. Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.
(Republican cartoon criticizing Bryan's speech)
Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech is perhaps the most defining speech in American History, barring the great speeches of Lincoln and the founding fathers. It's theme was a subject that few Americans care about today, but was an issue of great importance to America in 1896. The election of 1896 was a decisive one, one that would forever change the course of American history, as well as world history. On one side was William McKinley, the Republican nominee, supporter of the Gold Standard, and friend of big business. On the other side was William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic nominee, supporter of silver, and friend of the farmer and laborer. The election saw the victory of Bryan, whose administration would pursue various controversial economic, social, and foreign policies, some successful, others not. During his time in office, people either loved him or hated him, there wasn't much middle ground. He was one of America's most polarizing Presidents, second only to President McCarthy. Whatever one's opinion of Bryan is, there is no denying that he is one of the most, if not the most, defining Presidents in the history of the United States.
-Excerpt from The Guide to the Executive Mansion, an in Depth Look at America's Presidents by Benjamin Buckley, Harvard Press, 1999.
Bryan was a tireless campaigner, in contrast with McKinley's "Front Porch Campaign." McKinley didn't have the charisma or energy that Bryan had, which worked to Bryan's advantage. On November 3rd, 1896, the voters chose Bryan over McKinley 52-46%. Bryan was elected as the 25th President of the United States. Arthur Sewall was elected as America's 24th Vice President. Bryan and his supporters planned on pushing great reforms for the country, but would find a hostile Congress blocking their way. America was divided as ever, and the task fell to Bryan to bring the country together.
Bryan/Sewall 263 EV, 52.3% of popular vote
McKinley/Hobart 184 EV, 46.5% of popular vote
Mattchet/Maguire 0 EV, 1.1% of popular vote
coming soon: Bryan battles with Congress and international affairs.