The document provides an overview of the Gilded Age in United States history from the 1870s to 1900. It describes how the era earned its name, as the country experienced rapid industrialization and economic growth alongside high levels of poverty and corruption. Key aspects of the Gilded Age discussed include the rise of large industrialists, growing inequality between the wealthy and poor, immigration and urbanization, as well as the policies that enabled unchecked industrial expansion.

1. The Gilded AgeBy Brad Harris,Grand Prairie HSSE: US 2A, 3A, 3B. 3C

2. Historical ErasCharacteristics of an Historical EraThey have certain recognizable characteristics.They often overlap with other eras and time periods.They are often unique to a specific country or area.

3. Historical ErasHistorical Eras of U.S. History (since 1877)Gilded Age ……………………….. (1870s-1900)Progressive Era ………………. (1900-1920)World War I ……………………….. (1914-1918)Roaring ‘’20s …………………….. (1920-1929) Great Depression …………… (1929-1939)World War II …………………….. (1939-1945)Cold War ………………………….. (1945-1991)Civil Rights Movement …. (1950s-60s)

4. The Gilded AgeThe term “Gilded Age” was coined by writer Mark Twain

5. The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age is the period in U.S. history between 1870 to around 1900

6. The Gilded AgeThe era was called the Gilded Age because although life in the U.S. looked bright and shiny, underneath the surface, there was lots of poverty and corruption.

7. Characteristics of Gilded AgeNew policies dealing with Native AmericansRise of political machines running local politicsThe growth of industrialization

8. The Gilded AgeGroups that suffered during the Gilded Age:Native AmericansNative Americans were forced onto reservations and their children were forced to assimilate into American culture

9. The Gilded AgeGroups that suffered during the Gilded Age:African AmericansBlacks were denied many basic rights and lynching of blacks was a common occurrence in the South

10. The Gilded AgeGroups that suffered during the Gilded Age:FarmersOverproduction of goods and price gauging by railroads drove many farmers out of business

11. The Gilded AgeGroups that suffered during the Gilded Age:ImmigrantsMany immigrants were discriminated against and most lived in horrible inner city conditions

12. The Gilded AgeGroups that suffered during the Gilded Age:WomenWomen were denied the right to vote in most states and could not work the same jobs as men

13. The Gilded AgeGroups that suffered during the Gilded Age:ChildrenMost children lacked good educations because they went to work after they learned to read and write

14. Coming up next:The Old West

15. TheOldWestBy Brad Harris,Grand Prairie HSSE: US 3A, 12A, 15A

16. Rise of the Iron HorseFollowing the Civil War, many Americans began moving West. The growth of railroads quickened this migration.Most people who moved west were ranchers who raised cattle or farmed the land, or were miners looking for gold or silver.

17. Railroad PioneersCornelius VanderbiltLeland StanfordFounded Central Pacific Railroad, the largest railroad company in the WestLargest railroad tycoon in the Eastern United States during the late 1800s

18. Transcontinental RailroadThe railway completed in 1869 between Omaha, Nebraska and Sacramento, California It was built in large part by Chinese immigrants

19. Transcontinental RailroadIt joined the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads and greatly improved travel from the eastern United States to the West.

20. Homestead ActThe law passed in 1862 that encouraged the settlement of the Great PlainsPeople got a plot of land for free as long as they:Filed a applicationImproved the landFiled for a deed ($10)

21. Settlement of the WestFour things drew settlers to the Central Plainsthe Homestead Act allowed people to own their own land the land was rich and fertile for farming the development of the steel plow made farming easier the land was flat without any major mountains

22. Settlement of the WestThis flood of people moving westward angered many Native Americans living in the Plains.

23. Settlement of the WestTo make room for white settlers, herds of buffalo were killed and Native Americans were placed on reservations, leading to…

24. “Indian Wars”The movement west led to a series of “Indian wars” between homesteaders and Native AmericansThe clashes led to numerous massacres, throughout the late 1800sAmong these were the Sand Creek Massacre, Fetterman Massacre and the Massacre at Wounded Knee

25. Indian Peace CommissionThree years after the Sand Creek Massacre, the federal government tried to step in and settle disputes between U.S. settlers and Native Americans by creating the Indian Peace Commission in 1867The Indian Peace Commission tried to end conflicts by creating new lands for Native Americans only. These lands were known as reservations.

26. Indian Reservations

27. The Dawes ActLaw passed in 1887attempting to assimilate Native Americans into American societyThe law led to the creation of “Indian Territory”in what is today the state of Oklahoma

28. The Dawes ActNative American children were forced to learn English and became more “Americanized”Native American families were forced from their homelands and onto reservationsThe U.S. government had to use force to move some Native American

29. Flight of the Nez PerceOften, Native Americans were chased off land that they had been settled on for centuriesThe Nez Perce tribe – led by Chief Joseph – refused to move from their lands to a reservation in IdahoThe army chased the Nez Perce all the way to Canada before Chief Joseph surrendered

30. Famous Indian ChiefsSitting BullCrazy HorseRed CloudGeronimo

31. Custer’s Last StandThe Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876 was one of the most famous massacres in U.S. historyIt was in this battle Lt. Colonel George Custer and the U.S. 7th Army was ambushed by Native Americans. It became known as Custer’s Last Stand

32. Coming Up NextThe Industrial Revolution

33. The Industrial RevolutionBy Brad Harris, Grand Prairie HSSE: US 3B, 3C, 24B

34. Presidents of the Gilded AgeDuring the Gilded Age, it can be argued that the President of the United States had less power than the business leadersGrover ClevelandChester A. ArthurBenjamin HarrisonJames GarfieldThe policies and actions of the U.S. government during the Gilded Age gave large corporations the freedom to do most whatever it wanted, leading to an industrial boom in the U.S.

35. Free Enterprise SystemThe free enterprise system is the economic system in which citizens are free to run a business the way they wantThe system is based on the laissez-faire theory, meaning a business will succeed or fail and the government will not interfere

36. Free Enterprise SystemThe free enterprise system allowed the United States to become a world industrial giant in the late 1800s and led to numerous new inventions

37. Bell develops telephoneThe free enterprise system helped to lead to new inventions by private businesses. One of the most dramatic inventions of the late 1800s was in the field of communications.In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell developed the first telephone, which revolutionized communication by increasing the scale and speed of nationwide communications."Mr. Watson -- come here -- I want to see you."

38. Edison and the Light BulbIn 1879, American inventor Thomas Edison developed the first light bulb. The invention led to the wide spread use of electrical power and factories being able to run at night.This in turn produced more jobs and more product, which led to lower prices.Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name.

39. The Bessemer ProcessThe Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel. By the late 1880s an immigrant by the name of Andrew Carnegie used this process to become a millionaire

40. Captains of IndustryEntrepreneurs & Industrialists like Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan were able to build great fortunes during the Gilded AgeOilSteelRailroadsBankingJohn D. RockefellerAndrew CarnegieCornelius VanderbiltJ.P. MorganThe government created policies to support the industrialists High tariffs led to lower prices for American made goods

41. There were very few government regulations on big business

42. Government supported owners over workers in labor disputesCaptains of Industry ……or Robber Barons?

43. Millionaire’s Row, New YorkCarnegie Mansion

44. Millionaire’s Row, New YorkVanderbilt Chateau

45. Tenements in New York City

46. Tenements in New York City

47. The Gospel of WealthMany Christians rejected Social Darwinism because it contradicted the BibleMany believed that those who profited from society owed something in return. This philosophy of giving back to society became known as the Gospel of Wealth.The Captain of Industry who most believed in the Gospel of Wealth was Andrew Carnegie, who gave millions of dollars to numerous charities

48. ©CSCOPE 200847Ups and Downs of the EconomyDuring the Gilded Age, the U.S. economy went through periods of growth and depressions, due to tariff and currency policies 1870-1900Major depressions occurred in 1873 and 1893Farmers were especially hard hit. Since the U.S. put high tariffs on imports, Europe refused to buy our agricultural products

50. ©CSCOPE 200849Rich vs. PoorWhile wealth and affluence were growing and the middle class was rising, the number of poor were also growingThe poor (immigrants, minorities, unskilled laborers) flooded to the cities looking for work in the factories Farmers were greatly impacted by increased production (which seems like a good thing), but it drove prices down.

51. “Rags to Riches”Immigrants came to America with the hope they could become rich and successful if they worked hard enoughNovelist Horatio Alger wrote stories where the main character went from “rags to riches.”Rich Uncle PennybagsThe belief that people who worked hard could raise their standard of living was known as “Individualism”Going from “rags to riches” became known as achieving “The American Dream”

52. Social DarwinismNot everyone was able to achieve the American DreamMany people ended up broke trying to achieve wealth The belief that things that can not adapt to their environment will eventually die out is known as Social Darwinism“Survival of the fittest”

53. Coming Up Next…Immigration during the Gilded Age

54. The Industrial RevolutionBy Brad Harris, Grand Prairie HSSE: US 3B, 3C, 24B

55. Presidents of the Gilded AgeDuring the Gilded Age, it can be argued that the President of the United States had less power than the business leadersGrover ClevelandChester A. ArthurBenjamin HarrisonJames GarfieldThe policies and actions of the U.S. government during the Gilded Age gave large corporations the freedom to do most whatever it wanted, leading to an industrial boom in the U.S.

56. Free Enterprise SystemThe free enterprise system is the economic system in which citizens are free to run a business the way they wantThe system is based on the laissez-faire theory, meaning a business will succeed or fail and the government will not interfere

57. Free Enterprise SystemThe free enterprise system allowed the United States to become a world industrial giant in the late 1800s and led to numerous new inventions

58. Bell develops telephoneThe free enterprise system helped to lead to new inventions by private businesses. One of the most dramatic inventions of the late 1800s was in the field of communications.In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell developed the first telephone, which revolutionized communication by increasing the scale and speed of nationwide communications."Mr. Watson -- come here -- I want to see you."

59. Edison and the Light BulbIn 1879, American inventor Thomas Edison developed the first light bulb. The invention led to the wide spread use of electrical power and factories being able to run at night.This in turn produced more jobs and more product, which led to lower prices.Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name.

60. The Bessemer ProcessThe Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel. By the late 1880s an immigrant by the name of Andrew Carnegie used this process to become a millionaire

61. Captains of IndustryEntrepreneurs & Industrialists like Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan were able to build great fortunes during the Gilded AgeOilSteelRailroadsBankingJohn D. RockefellerAndrew CarnegieCornelius VanderbiltJ.P. MorganThe government created policies to support the industrialists High tariffs led to lower prices for American made goods

62. There were very few government regulations on big business

63. Government supported owners over workers in labor disputesCaptains of Industry ……or Robber Barons?

64. Millionaire’s Row, New YorkCarnegie Mansion

65. Millionaire’s Row, New YorkVanderbilt Chateau

66. Tenements in New York City

67. Tenements in New York City

68. The Gospel of WealthMany Christians rejected Social Darwinism because it contradicted the BibleMany believed that those who profited from society owed something in return. This philosophy of giving back to society became known as the Gospel of Wealth.The Captain of Industry who most believed in the Gospel of Wealth was Andrew Carnegie, who gave millions of dollars to numerous charities

69. ©CSCOPE 200867Ups and Downs of the EconomyDuring the Gilded Age, the U.S. economy went through periods of growth and depressions, due to tariff and currency policies 1870-1900Major depressions occurred in 1873 and 1893Farmers were especially hard hit. Since the U.S. put high tariffs on imports, Europe refused to buy our agricultural products

71. ©CSCOPE 200869Rich vs. PoorWhile wealth and affluence were growing and the middle class was rising, the number of poor were also growingThe poor (immigrants, minorities, unskilled laborers) flooded to the cities looking for work in the factories Farmers were greatly impacted by increased production (which seems like a good thing), but it drove prices down.

72. “Rags to Riches”Immigrants came to America with the hope they could become rich and successful if they worked hard enoughNovelist Horatio Alger wrote stories where the main character went from “rags to riches.”Rich Uncle PennybagsThe belief that people who worked hard could raise their standard of living was known as “Individualism”Going from “rags to riches” became known as achieving “The American Dream”

73. Social DarwinismNot everyone was able to achieve the American DreamMany people ended up broke trying to achieve wealth The belief that things that can not adapt to their environment will eventually die out is known as Social Darwinism“Survival of the fittest”

74. Coming Up Next…Immigration during the Gilded Age

75. Child Labor during the Gilded AgeBy Brad Harris,Grand Prairie HSSE: US 3C

76. Child LaborImmigrant children were put to work in sweatshops – jobs with harsh working conditions

77. Child LaborBusinesses wanted to hire children because they were a cheap source of labor.

78. Child LaborParents wanted children to work for 3 reasons: 1) their families needed the money2) they thought hard work built character3) they believed once children learned how to read, write, and do basic math, they were educated enough

79. Child LaborChild labor included factory work, mining or quarrying, agriculture, or doing odd jobs.

80. Child LaborChildren often worked in dangerous factory jobs…

81. Child Labor...or dangerous jobs in mines because of their size

82. Child LaborNewspaper carriers were known as “Newsies”

83. Coming up next…Political Machines and Inner City Corruption

84. Politics of the Gilded AgeSE: US 3ACity Bosses and Political Machines

85. Political MachinesPolitical machines controlled the activities of political parties in the city. Ward bosses, precinct captains, and the city boss worked to: ensure that their candidates were elected; make sure that city government worked to their advantage.

86. Machine Organization Like a pyramid: local precinct workers and captains at the base, ward bosses in the middle, and the city boss at the topCity Boss = Power broker (most were democrats and many were immigrants themselves)

87. Role of the Political BossThe “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the court system.Precinct captains and ward bosses, often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants, helped new immigrants with jobs, housing, and naturalization in exchange for votes. Boss Tweed ran NYC

88. Residents Vote for candidates supported by political machines.How the Political Machine worksMachines hand out jobs,contracts, and favors toCity ResidentsMachines maintainpower over city governmentsPolitical Machines work to control city politicsRun by powerful “Boss”who has influence with or over city officials

89. Role of ImmigrantsImmigrants were the workers who ran the political machine. They offered their loyalty and votes in exchange for favors and solutions to their problems.

90. Graft and ScandalSome political bosses were corrupt and their political machines practiced election fraud by using fake names and voting multiple times to ensure victory.Bribeswere common and construction contracts often resulted in kick-backs. Because the police were hired by the boss, there was no close scrutiny.

91. What is Graft?Graft is the illegal use of political influence for personal gain. How did the bosses use graft for their own personal gain?To win electionsTo make themselves richerTo finance the operations of the political machine

92. What are kickbacks?A Kickback is the illegal practice of getting contract workers hired by the bosses to overcharge the city for their services. Then the overpayment would be split between the city boss and the contract-worker How did the bosses use kickbacks for their own personal gain?The bosses would enrich themselves as well as the machine

93. Boss Tweed, Tammany HallWilliam M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed,was head of Tammany Hall, New York City’s powerful Democratic political machine. Between 1869-1871, he led the Tweed Ring of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city. Convicted of 120 counts of fraud & extortion, he was sentenced to 12 years in jail, but released after one. Rearrested, he escaped to Spain.

94. Boss Tweed ©CSCOPE 200892"Stop them damn pictures. I don't care what the papers write about me. My constituents can't read. But, damn it, they can see the pictures." William “Boss” TweedTammy Hall Party Boss

95. New_York_City__Five_Points_Neighborhood_and_Tammany_Hall (1)

96. 94Thomas NastAs a political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, Nast attacked the Tammany Hall (Democratic) political machine that ran New York City in the late 1800s . Along the way, Nast created the Democratic Donkey (he did not like the Democrats), and the Republican Elephant symbols, the Tammany Tiger, and even Santa Claus. Tammany TigerDemocratic DonkeyRepublican Elephant

98. Coming up Next…The Birth of Unions

99. The Birth of UnionsBy Brad Harris,Grand Prairie HSSE: US 3B

100. What is a Labor Union?A labor union is an organization of workers who unite to protect the rights of the workers from abusive practices of the employer

101. What is a Labor Strike?A labor strike is when a labor union refuses to go to work in order to shut down a business because of poor working conditions or poor pay

102. Early UnionsThe free enterprise system meant that businesses made their own rulesWithout government interference, business owners could pay their workers what they wanted and make them work as long as they wantedIndustrialization during the late 1800s contributed to the development of organized labor because it created low-wage, low-skill jobs that made employees easy to replace.

103. Suppressing the UnionsUnion organizers were blacklisted, making it impossible for them to get a job

104. Businesses locked workers out and refused to pay them

105. Workers were forced to sign contracts saying they would not join a unionKarl MarxKarl Marx was the German philosopher, whose ideas are credited as the foundation of modern communism.Marx argued that free market capitalism, like previous socio-economic systems, will inevitably produce internal tensions which will lead to its destruction

106. MarxismMarx believed that workers would eventually revolt, take control of factories, and overthrow the government. Once the workers did this, the new workers-led government would take all private property and distribute wealth evenly among every citizen. Marxism greatly influenced European unions and led to numerous revolutions in Europe in the mid-1800s. When immigrants came to the U.S. from Europe, many feared they would bring their ideas of workers revolutions with them, leading to a distrust of many Americans of immigrant workers.

107. Mary Harris “Mother” JonesMother Jones was the nation’s most prominent woman union leader during the American Industrial RevolutionJones became an organizer for the United Mine WorkersShe traveled to numerous mining camps to see conditions miners had to endure. She gave fiery speeches for miners to unite to fight for better working conditions and better pay.

108. Eugene V. DebsEugene V. Debs was the powerful leader of the American Railway Union.Debs would run for president four times as a candidate for the Socialist Party

109. American Federation of LaborThe American Federation of Labor was the union of over 20 trade unionsSamuel Gompers was the union’s first leader. Gompers believed unions should stay out of politics and that they should negotiate rather than go on strike.

110. Great Railroad Strike of 1877In 1877, an economic recession led to some railroads cutting wages, triggering the first nationwide labor strike. It became known as the Great Railroad Strike.

111. Great Railroad Strike of 1877Some workers turned violent and numerous states had to call out their state militias to stop the violence.

112. Knights of LaborIn response to the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, labor organizers formed the first nationwide industrial union – the Knights of Labor. The Knights called for an eight-hour workday, supported the use of arbitration AND began to organize strikes.

113. Haymarket RiotThe Haymarket Riot was the disturbance that took place on May 4, 1886, in Chicago, and began as a rally in support of striking workers.

114. Haymarket RiotA bomb was thrown during the rally, which started a riot. Eight men were convicted and four of them were executed. One was a member of the Knights of Labor.

115. Homestead StrikeThe Homestead Strike occurred in 1892 when workers of Andrew Carnegie’s U.S. Steel went on strike after a tense labor dispute led to a lockout.

116. Homestead StrikeThe Homestead Strike one of the most violent strikes in U.S. history and was a major setback for unions.

117. Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike refers to a nationwide conflict between labor unions and railroads that occurred near Chicago in 1894.

118. Pullman StrikeFollowing the firing of union workers, Debs organized a strike that shut down the nation’s railroads and threatened the economy.

119. Impact of union strikesUnion membership declined as manypeople saw unions as being Un-American and violent

120. IWW (Wobblies)The International Workers of the World (IWW) is the union created in Chicago in 1905 that was made up primarily of socialists and anarchistsThe IWW called for all workers to be united as a class and no wage system

121. Women’s Trade Union LeagueIn the early 1900s, women were paid less than men, and most unions did not include women.As a result, in 1903 the Women’s Trade Union League was formedThis was the first union organized to address women’s labor issues.

124. SummaryThe free enterprise system is based on the laissez-faire theory, meaning that the government should not interfere with or regulate business

125. Industrialization contributed to the development of labor unions because it created low-wage, low-skill jobs that made employees easy to replace

126. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 led to the first nationwide industrial union – the Knights of Labor

127. Samuel Gompers formed the American Federation of Labor, the largest trade union in the nationComing up Next…Politics and Reform during the Gilded Age

128. The GildedAgePolitics and Reform

129. StalemateTwo sides are even and there is not a way for one side to beat the other

130. RepublicansParty of morality

131. Reformers

132. Abolition

133. TemperanceDemocratsParty of Personal Liberty

134. Dominated the SouthUnusual Elections1876 and 1888

135. Presidents Hayes and Harrison win the Electoral College but lose the popular vote

136. Has this happened recently?

138. PatronageThe act of giving government jobs to supporters of the winning party in an election

139. Also called the "Spoils System”

141. Half-breedsRepublican reformers who wanted an end to the patronage system

142. StalwartsRepublicans who supported patronage

143. Government jobs went to family and friendsAssassination of a PresidentPresident James Garfield is assassinated in 1881 in a train station by a supporter who did not receive a job after the election“I am a Stalwart and Arthur is President now!!”

144. Pendleton ActWas passed in reaction to Garfield's assassination Jobs must be filled according to the rules made by a bipartisan committee (Civil Service Commission)Candidates must take an examination (Civil Service Exam) to qualify

145. Civil Service Replaces PatronageNationally, some politicians pushed for reform in the hiring system, which had been based onPatronage (giving jobs and favors to those who helped a candidate get elected). Reformers pushed for adoption of amerit system (hiring the most qualified for jobs). The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make appointments for federal jobs based on performance.Applicants for federal jobs are required to take a Civil Service Exam

146. Rise of MonopoliesA monopoly is having exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices.

147. Robber BaronsThe 19th century term for a businessman or banker who dominated a respective industry and amassed huge personal fortunes, typically by anti-competitive or unfair business practices.Examples:Andrew Carnegie (steel) U.S. Steel

148. Milton S. Hershey (Chocolate)

149. J. P. Morgan (banking, finance, industrial consolidation)

150. John D. Rockefeller (oil) Standard Oil

151. Leland Stanford (railroads)

152. Cornelius Vanderbilt (railroads)Economic IssuesRailroads gave rebates to large corporations because of their volume seemingly gouging smaller volume customers

153. Tariffs increased prices on manufactured goods and made it difficult for farmers to exportWabash v. IllinoisThe federal government has the power to regulate rates for traffic between states

154. Interstate Commerce CommissionIn response to Wabash v. Illinois, Congress passed a law that rates must be reasonable and just (fair)

155. It also made it illegal to charge higher rates for shorter hauls (prohibited discriminating against small markets)

156. It was ineffective because there was no enforcement of the lawSherman Antitrust ActMade it illegal to combine a company into a trust or conspire to restrain trade or commerce The law was ineffective because it was vague and the courts did not enforce it

158. So What?Although the ICC and Sherman Antitrust Act were ineffective they did set a precedent for government regulation

159. Garfield's assassination leads to reforms that are still in practice todayPopulismBy Brad Harris,Grand Prairie, TXSE: US 3A

160. Farmers StruggleDuring the 1880s, new inventions greatly increased farm productionBut greater production led to lower prices for farm goods

161. Farmers StruggleA economic depression hit the nation and many farmers went bankrupt. They believed the only way to convince the government to help them was to organize.

162. The GrangeThe first national farm organization was the Patrons of Husbandry, also known as The GrangeMany farmers joined the Grange to get help during the difficult economic timesThe Grangers pressured railroads to reduce their rates to haul their goods to market. Grangers created cooperatives, which were marketing organizations that worked for the benefit of their members

163. Farmers’ AllianceBy the late 1880s, a new organization known as the Farmers Alliance began to formFarmers Alliances were created throughout the south and west but alliance failed help the farmers enough

164. PopulismThe struggle of the farmers led to a rise of a belief known as PopulismPopulism was the movement to increase farmers’ political power to work to pass laws in their interest

165. Populist Demandsunlimited coinage of silverfederal ownership of railroadsa graduated income tax direct election of U.S. Senators

166. Goldbugs v. SliveritesCoining unlimited silver would solve the nations economic crisisAmerica’s currency should be based on Gold

167. Election of 1896When farmers found that the Democratic Party would not meet their demands, many broke away and created the People’s Party, also known as the PopulistsIn the Election of 1896, a major issue was improving the U.S. economyDemocrats nominated William Jennings Bryan, a supporter of unlimited silver, drawing most Populists back to the Democratic PartyWilliam Jennings BryanWilliam McKinley

168. Bryan: The Farmers Friend18,000 miles of campaign “whistle stops.”

169. William Jennings BryanWas backed by people in the South and West, especially farmers