 
in the 1870's farmers began to take political action. 
in particular they campaigned to get the federal government to increase 
the amount of money in circulation. 
they hoped that they could get higher prices for their crops in this way. 
then they would have more money to pay their debts. 
the most important drive for more money was the "free silver" movement. 
farmers said that silver, which was far more plentiful than gold, should 
be coined more freely for use as money. 
more money would thus be circulated, and farmers would be able to pay 
their debts more easily. 
the united states treasury department did use some silver for coins, but 
it was a limited amount. 
farmers wanted unlimited (free) coinage of silver. 
in 1892 the people's party, also called the populist party, was organized 
to fight for free silver. 
the populists were important for a few years. 
they elected 5 senators and 10 representatives to congress, and 3 state 
governors. 
in the presidential election of 1896 the democratic party decided to run a 
man who would support the goals of the populists. 
when the nominating convention met in chicago, it also drew up a party 
platform. 
it said that if the democrats won the election, they would pass laws for 
free silver. 
thirty-six-year-old william jennings bryan was nominated as the democratic 
candidate for president. 
bryan had served his state of nebraska in the house of representatives for 
two terms. 
he had a powerful voice with, as someone said, organlike tones. 
