Cross of Gold

The term “bimetallism” refers to the use of two metals as currency and to back paper money. In the case of the United States, these metals were gold and silver. While the United States first used both metals, after the Civil War the country shifted away from silver in favor of gold alone. Bryan uses bimetallism and support for silver interchangeably. The readoption of silver lost favor near the end of the campaign, and bimetallism ended for good in 1900 with the formal adoption of the gold standard in the United States.

The term is defined in the context of this speech as the stake or involvement an individual or group has in the wider economy. Bryan clarifies that he isn’t referring only to the industrialists or rich businessmen of the urban parts of the United States to which the term most often applies. Instead, his list includes farmers, miners, rural business owners, and any “man who is employed for wages” (200). They play a crucial role in US businesses, with the whole operation relying on the work they do.