Activity options 1. deliver bryan's "cross of gold" speech to your classmates. then discuss why you think this speech moved the democratic party to nominate bryan as its candidate for president.

William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold speech was important to emphasize how the currency of gold should not be used for the average person or farmer in the United States at the time in the late 1800s.  Rather, William Jennings Bryan believed that gold was only accessible and available to those of extreme wealth or money and not fair to those who were not able to afford gold.

Bryan emphasizes in his speech that silver is much more affordable for the average person and that they should not suffer in society and be punished because the government wants to accept gold as the currency standard instead of something that everyone can afford.  

Bryan uses a religious comparison of being crucified on a cross of gold as compared to the Bible.  His argument was extremely strong and resonated with a lot of average and common people, which is why he was chosen to represent the Democratic Party in 1896 against the Republican candidate William McKinley.

no

explanation:

not everyone in america is free. it is has always been a unequal society. and yet people come in swarms, in search of better lives. some are brought as children, unaware, unknowing. some arrive and just don’t leave. they build lives, pay taxes, raise families. some enter illegally, fleeing persecution in their home country.

there are many reasons why human beings are so attracted to america, despite its history of bitterness towards immigrants.

there are almost two million immigrants brought to the us when they were children. president donald trump and his collaborators are determined to rid the us of as many undocumented immigrants as they can, and stop others from coming because none of their ancestors were immigrants.

america has so many things and yet it lacks the one thing that humanity needs to fully thrive. and so this country will not be at peace in itself until it resolves the pain at the heart of slavery, attacking immigrants, and crumble the rights of those with less power.