jan 1, 1896 - Republican Party Second Era

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The election of 1896 marked a second critical election that transformed American politics.
Led by William Jennings Bryan, a Democratic coalition of small Western farmers and emerging labor unions advocated free silver and regulations to control the railroads. Led by William McKinley, a Republican coalition of industrialists, financial monopolies, and small business people backed the gold standard, high tariffs, and industrialization. McKinley's victory enabled the Republicans to remain America's majority party until the Great Depression.

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