The 1896 Presidential Election: Democrats, Republicans, and Populists

Who were the Democratic, Republican, and Populist nominees for president in the 1896 election?

1. William Jennings Bryan

2. William McKinley

3. William Jennings Bryan

Answer:

In the 1896 presidential election, the Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan, the Republicans nominated William McKinley, and the Populists endorsed William Jennings Bryan.

The Democratic party nominee for president in 1896 was William Jennings Bryan; the Republicans nominated William McKinley; and the Populists endorsed William Jennings Bryan. This was a unique alignment of the political parties in this era.

The Republicans remained firm with their policies built around a gold-based standard for the American economy and protective tariffs. They chose William McKinley who was the former congressman and then governor of Ohio.

The Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan, a congressman from Nebraska who advocated for a silver-based monetary system and recommended the government to coin more silver. Given the direction of his policies, Bryan was also endorsed by the Populist Party, a third-party that emerged in response to the dominance of big businesses and decline in farmer and rural community power.

The Populist Party saw Bryan as a possible advocate for their cause, endorsing him to help their platform reach a wider audience. The overall result saw McKinley defeating Bryan, gaining the majority of the popular vote.