Realigning America: McKinley, Bryan, and the Remarkable Election of 1896

The presidential election of 1896 brought about fundamental realignments in American politics
as voting patterns and a shift in national policies reflected new realities of a changing America. 

CONTEXT:  1876-1896 “Parade of Colorless Presidents”  WHY?  Congressional supremacy and Presidential subordination.  The Presidency was at an all-time low in power and influence, and the Congress was rife with corruption. State and city leaders shared in the graft, and the public was kept largely unaware. Much like in the colonial days, Americans were not taking their orders from the top; rather, they were building a new society from its foundation.

 - Mnemonic Device

Hey Garfield Are Cats Helping Clean Mouse TRaps
Hayes - Garfield- Arthur - Cleveland -Harrison - Cleveland -  McKinley - Teddy Roosevelt

CANDIDATES: The Republics correctly sensed that the depression weakened incumbent President Grover Cleveland and the Democrats. They confidently nominated William McKinley, the affable and well-liked governor of Ohio. Pro-Silver delegates controlled the Democratic convention and Populists William Jennings Bryan the gifted speaker whose "Cross of Gold" speech took the Democratic convention by storm  - "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold"

CAMPAIGNING: The Election of 1896 set new standards in financing, organization, and accountability, and transitioned from the long-dominant "military style" of campaigning to the "educational style" that appealed to a savvier electorate. 

William Jennings Bryan ignored tradition and launched a whirlwind campaign that crisscrossed the county. The "Boy Orator" conveyed boundless energy and missionary enthusiasm as he traveled over 18,000 miles and delivered over 600 speeches support bimetlaism.

William McKinley stayed at home in Canton, Ohio and ran a front porch campaign skillfully financed and managed by Mark Hanna, Friendly railroads provided reduced fares and over 750,000 people visited Canton and hear McKinley promise "good work, good wages and good money."

CONSEQUENCE: McKinley's well-financed campaign (John Rockefeller had donated $250,000) overwhelmed Bryan.  Winning 7.1 million popular votes (to Bryan's 6.5 million) and 271 electoral votes (to Bryans 176). With triumph of gold over silver in this fabled "battle of the standards, The Republicans the party of central government, national authority, sound money, and activism pulled off a stunning win over the Democrats the party of state's rights, decentralization, inflation, and limited government. Meanwhile the People's Party, one of the most prominent third parties in the country's history, which also nominated Bryan, went down to a defeat from which it would never recover.

POST SCRIPT:  McKinley's victory in 1896 coupled with the discoveries of large gold deposits in South Africa (Witwatersrand Gold Rush of 1887 - with large-scale production starting in 1898) and the Klondike Gold Rush (1896) increased the world gold supply and the subsequent increase in money supply that free coinage of silver was supposed to bring.

How was America Realigned in 1896? 

Review Key Elections in American History