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Website
Vassar College

Vassar: 1896: The Presidential Campaign: Cartoons and Commentary

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive site from the Vassar College on the 1896 presidential election includes links to cartoons, parties and platforms, leaders, campaign themes, and special features.
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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Tennessee vs. John Scopes, the "Monkey Trial"

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Missouri-Kansas City provides excellent coverage of this famous trial includes trial transcripts, pictures, biographies, evolution controversy, and two short video clips of the actual trial.
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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: William Jennings Bryan (1860 1925)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a short biography on William Jennings Bryan, focusing on his antievolution campaign and his part in the Scopes Monkey Trial.
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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Elections 1896 & 1900: Interactive Map: Biography of America

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive map and video from A Biography of America will help compare how key issues in the elections of 1896 and 1900 influenced geographical patterns in both presidential and congressional election results. Although the...
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: William Jennings Bryan

For Students 9th - 10th
Account of Bryan's life and famous quotes for which he is known.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: William Jennings Bryan

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers an overview of the life of William Jennings Bryan that discusses his campaign for President in 1896 and his life after he was defeated in the election. Also includes links to information on the Elections of 1896, 1900...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Monkey Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
A companion site to the PBS documentary on the John T. Scopes trial, recounting the battle between creationism and evolution.
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Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the rise of the Populist Party in Georgia, as a reflection of its importance in national politics in in the elections of 1892 and 1896.
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Website
Other

Authentic History Center: The Election of 1896

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed description of the issues, politicians, and campaigns that were a part of the 1896 election in the United States. William McKinley defeated William Jennings Bryan and became President. Includes many primary sources.
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Primary
Mount Holyoke College

International Relations: American Protest Over the Sinking of the Lusitania

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of a statement by William Jennings Bryan protesting the sinking of the Lusitania by German U-boats.
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Primary
Mount Holyoke College

Mt. Holyoke:

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of speech by William Jennings Bryan at the 1900 Democratic convention. Details his anti-imperialistic stance in terms of the U.S. involvement in the Philippines.
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Handout
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Joins the Battle: A New Kind of Father, a New Kind of Daughter

For Students 9th - 10th
After Baylor University and University of Texas opened their doors to women in the late 19th century, more Texas women had access to education as well as paying jobs. Read how this new opportunity for women as well as the formation of...
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: William Howard Taft

For Students 9th - 10th
A great in-depth biography of William Howard Taft. Topics include: his life before the presidency, campaigns and elections, domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and life after the presidency. Links to the first lady, his Cabinet members,...
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Article
Scientific American

Scientific American: 50 Years Ago: A Witness at the Scopes Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
A lengthy article from Scientific American recounting the expert testimony of Fay-Cole Cooper, a professor at the University of Chicago, who supported the idea of evolution in the Scopes Monkey Trial.
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Handout
US Department of State

Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Jennings Bryan (1860 1925)

For Students 9th - 10th
William Jennings Bryan brief bio outlining his life as a lawyer and U.S. Statesman, nomitated to Secretary of State by President Woodrow Wilson.
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: William Howard Taft: Campaign and Election of 1908

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the presidential candidates from the Republican, Democratic, and Socialist parties in the election of 1908. See the party platforms and the reasons Taft won the election.
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: William Mc Kinley: The Campaign and Election of 1896

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the campaign of 1896 in which William McKinley represented the Republican Party and William Jennings Bryan the Democratic Party. One big issue was the contrast between the use of the gold standard as opppsed to free silver.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: William Jennings Bryan, Free Silver

For Students 3rd - 8th
This 3-page Library of Congress article provides information on William Jennings Bryan and the Free Silver Movement of 1896.
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Website
Charles I. Kelly and Lawrence E. Kelly

American History: Election of 1896: It Came Down to a Question of Money

For Students 6th - 8th
This program, part of The Making of a Nation from Voice of America gives a very good description of the issues in the presidential campaign of 1896. Learn about the differences between the gold bugs and silverites, a third party...
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Graphic
Other

President Elect: 1908

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of the candidates for president in the election of 1908 in which the primary candidates were William H. Taft, William Jennings Bryan, and Eugene V. Debs. The electoral map shows how split the country was between Republicans...
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Handout
University of North Carolina

Documenting the American South: Thomas E. Watson: Georgia Populist Politician

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of Georgian Thomas Edward Watson includes information about his vice-presdential campaign with his running mate, William Jennings Bryan, and his progressive writings.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: William Jennings Bryan: Imperialism (Flag of an Empire)

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text and audio of William Jennings Bryan's speech "Imperialism" (Flag of an Empire) delivered on August 8, 1900, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: The Gilded Age: The Populists

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains the history of the Populist movement, its growth into a political party, and its later dissolution. Includes questions for students at end.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Monkey Trial

For Students 5th - 8th
A very good look at the Scopes Monkey Trial that pit prosecuting attorney, William Jennings Bryan against defense attorney, Clarence Darrow. Read about the issues, the media circus at the trial, and eventual outcome. Find the basis of...