By: Erin Bean Ward Ms. Winsley English 11 First period April 9, 2013

* William Jennings Bryan was born March 19, 1860, in Salem. He graduated from Illinois College and Union College of Law. * After marrying Mary Baird, Bryan moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where the three Bryan children grew up. The Bryans moved to Miami, Florida, in 1920, and they also had a summer home in Asheville, North Carolina. * He died in July 26, 1925, in Dayton, Ohio.

* You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold. * Crown of thorns 1. was placed on Jesus Christ of the day he was nailed to the cross and died for sins. 2. And now we are cruel to others for what we want in life. By stating that part of the Speech: he is saying that we have grown cruel and twisted

* William was talking about his chance to tell us of what we have become, and how that can change. * That the great cities rest upon our broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country. -He is saying that if we burn down everything and destroy our farms everyone will die and the grass will grow up onto the roads and everything will fall apart.

* The audience for this speech would be for all of us, and how crazy things have gotten over the past decades. * Here is something from the speech that will help you understand a little more: *Ah, my friends, is not the reason for change evident to anyone who will look at the matter? No private character, however pure, no personal popularity, however great, can protect form the avenging wrath of an indignant people a man who will declare that he is in favor of fastening the gold standard upon this country or who is willing to surrender the right of self- government and place the legislative control of our affairs in the hands of foreign potentates and powers.

* This speech was told to convince us and help us and that is we ever need help, we should ask for it and not just stand there hopeless. * We go forth confident that we shall win. Why? Because upon the paramount issue of this campaign there is not a spot of ground upon which the enemy will dare to challenge battle. If they tell us that the gold standard is a good thing, we shall point to their platform and tell them that their platform pledges the party to get rid of the gold standard and substitute bimetallism.

* William Jennings Bryan gives the speech on the morning of July 9, Thousand of people packed, hoping to hear the platform debate. The galleries were quickly packed. *The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. I come to speak to you in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty, the cause of humanity

* The tone of this speech was: Sharp Sharp: He made his point and made it loud and clear. Never before in the history of this country has there been witnessed such a contest as that through which we have just passed. Never before in the history of American politics has a great issue been fought out, as this issue has been, by the voters of a great party.

* We must try to listen to his speech and remember it. * William wanted to make a point of something and that we should all work together and help each other out. Even though times might get tough, but it is good to have some help. You might need help with something little or big. * For example I needed help when I was in the third grade and had surgery on my right foot and everyone did there best to help me.

* But in this contest, brother has been arrayed against brother, and father against son. Old leaders have been cast aside when they refused to give expression to the sentiments of those whom they would lead, and new leaders have sprung up to give direction to this cause of freedom. * What he is saying is that our Father and his sons have all died for us. * He took leadership and courage for our freedom.

* The warmest ties of love and acquaintance and association have been disregarded. * What he is saying here is that everyone has loved one another at sometime in their life and we should continue to help and care for one another.

* When you come before us and tell us that we shall disturb your business interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your action. We say to you that you have made too limited in its application the definition of a businessman. * He is saying that if something happens and you come before us and disturb everything about that, it will be your own fault of your saying and you will have made a limit of the application of the businessman.

* It is for these that we speak. We do not come as aggressors. Our war is not a war of conquest. We are fighting in the defense of our homes, our families, and posterity. We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned. We have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded. We have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came. * This means that we(our) homes and families have all begged for something at least one time. we have all begged for freedom and peace and justice. We have petitioned and they have our petitions. And what do they do with them? They have been scorned. We have entreated and they have been disregarded. We have all begged and they mocked us when calamity came. * So what that also means is they didnt help us when we needed their help.

* A lot has changed by a little. They have helped us and cared for us. * They have all helped us go through the tough times that we have all been through.