Topic - WJ Bryan, The Campaign of 1896, and the fall of a third party
Following the depression of the early 1890's, there was considerable disillusionment among the masses of the two mainstream parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. The major parties didn't have the same commitment from the people of the west that they had from the people of the established states. The Democrats and the Republicans had earned this allegiance during their work for their respective constituencies over the previous 40 plus years. However, the population of the west had subsequently created a new social and economic reality that politicians had not yet adequately dealt with. In the absence of what they thought was effective representation in government, a movement grew to fill the void that evolved into the Populist Party.
The run-up to the election saw this party grow, then quickly shrink. Eventually, it nominated (backed) the Democratic nominee, WJ Bryan. Bryan rode this wave of reform into the national debate, flirting with Populist notions, but remaining loyal to his Democratic Party. He campaigned on the motto "Equal Rights to All, Special Privileges to None."
His platform was certainly reformist in substance, but he reformed the way political messages were delivered as well. Up to this point, Presidential nominees relied largely on local supporters and sympathetic press outlets to deliver their messages to the people. Bryan thought it necessary to speak with them directly, so he began delivering speeches from trains, bringing his traveling convention to ___ cities in ____ days.
Okay, this is just an intro/outline. My thesis will be Bryan's influence on the electorate and the Populist influence on Bryan. I believe that third parties are ridiculous and voting for them is masturbatory. Apparently, the Populist leadership realized this as well, and decided on the lesser of two evils, a practice that we are all familiar with today. My sources will be mostly newspapers (I'm sure there are plenty of primary sources there) and anything else I can find. The focus on the west is that the Populist party was largely a western phenomenon, as was much of Bryan's appeal.
If anyone has some criticism of any of this, constructive or otherwise, let me hear it; I could use the help.
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