In 1909, William Jennings Bryan started to support the prohibition movement, arguing against saloons and alcohol. Since many of his supporters were women, he also supported womens' rights and suffrage. In the time leading up to the election of 1912, the Republican Party was split into conservatives and progressives because President Taft became disliked in the party. Bryan decided not to run in this election, but he had a great amount of influence in the Democratic Party. Bryan wanted to lead the party in the right direction by making sure the nominee for president fit his standards. The contest for nomination was mostly between James "Champ" Clark, the Speaker of the House, and Woodrow Wilson, Princeton's president. Bryan accepted the offer from The World to write and report for them. At the convention in Baltimore, Bryan shocked the convention with his telegram of protest to the candidates and his demand for the withdrawal of anyone associated with the privileged. When New York and Tammany Hall declared their support for Clark, Bryan changed from being neutral to supporting Woodrow Wilson, rejecting Clark because of New York. Bryan's support for Woodrow Wilson allowed Wilson to win the nomination and the presidential election afterwards.
Key Terms
Woodrow Wilson
James "Champ" Clark
Robert La Follette
The World
Anti-Saloon League
Women's Christian Temperance Union
Questions
Why did Bryan decide not to run for the election of 1912?
How did the election of 1912 show Bryan's strong influence on the party?
What was the purpose of Bryan's telegram and demand during the nominating convention?
How were Clark and Wilson similar and different?
Even before New York's support for Clark, why did Bryan seem to be tilting towards Wilson despite the fact that Wilson previously was against Bryan?
American presidential election, 1912, Map, from Britannica Online for Kids, accessed March 11, 2015, http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-67679.
Kazin, Michael. "Conscience of the Party." In A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan, 169-192, New York, NY: Anchor Books, 2006.
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