William Jennings Bryan

[[File:William_Jennings_Bryan,_1860-1925.jpg|thumb|165px|Bryan]]{{uspolitics}}{{Sources needed}}'''William Jennings Bryan''' {{lived|1860|1925}} was an [[United States|American]] Secretary of State (under [[Woodrow Wilson]]) and three-time presidential candidate on the [[Democratic Party]] ticket (in 1896, 1900, and 1908). He ran on a [[Populism|populist]] platform of opposition to railroad companies, banks, and [[gold standard (economics)|the gold standard]], first rising to prominence on the basis of {{wpl|Cross of Gold speech|a speech}} made against the latter and in favor of [[Free Silver]]. His populist appeals helped define the Democrats as a "pro-worker party," a perception that is still present today. He was also a critic of U.S. [[imperialism]], famously delivering a speech where he criticized the U.S.'s annexation of the [[Philippines]].<ref>[https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wjbryanimperialism.htm William Jennings Bryan Imperialism (Flag of an Empire)], ''American Rhetoric''</ref>

Later, he supported [[Prohibition]] and opposed the theory of [[evolution]]. In an illustrative example of the [[Zero|level]] of [[brain]] activity among creationists, he expressed his opposition to evolution using talking points that are still in wide use today: that evolution undermined the [[Bible]] and that it [[:File:Hitwin.jpg|gave rise]] to [[Social Darwinism]] and [[eugenics]].

Bryan also endorsed [[James_Ussher|Archbishop James Ussher's]] [[young earth creationist]] dating of the age of the Earth to about 6000 years - in court, no less.<ref>''[[God Is Not Great|God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything]]'', page 57-58.</ref>

==Scopes trial and aftermath==
{{main|Scopes trial}}
He was one of the prosecuting attorneys in the [[Scopes trial]]; in this capacity, he was called to the stand for questioning by [[Clarence Darrow]], the defense attorney, during which (not having the aid of present-day [[bullshit]]ting techniques such as the [[Gish Gallop]]) he was thoroughly trounced and humiliated. He won the case<ref group=note>Scopes ''had'' stipulated he broke the [[Tennessee]] [[law]] that banned teaching evolution in state-funded schools, colleges, and universities. [[Teach the controversy]]? Apparently '''[[Hypocrisy|not]]''' when creationism was holding the political reins.</ref> but died five days later due partially to the fatigue it had brought upon him. 

The [[fundamentalist]] [[Bryan College]] in Dayton, [[Tennessee]], which was founded in the aftermath of the Scopes trial, is named for him, as well as a middle and high school in [[Nebraska]], where he spent most of his political career and is mostly known for his "Cross of Gold" speech and multiple presidential runs.

While viewed as a [[martyr]] by fundamentalists, William Jennings Bryan would be considered [[leftist]] by most of them if he were around. For instance, he was a [[Day-age creationism|day-age creationist]], not an outright [[young earth creationist]]. He supported things like favorable legislation for [[poor]] workers and ardent [[pacifism]], even resigning from his post as Secretary of State when it became clear the United States would enter [[World War I]]. He also supported extending [[Women's suffrage|suffrage to women]]. It isn't clear if he would support many of the [[death penalty|things]] [[Iraq War|religious]] [[Laissez-faire|conservatives]] have rallied for in recent decades, either.

==See also==
*[[Bernie Sanders]] — Sometimes, you can be a very influential politician and move your party toward you even if you never become president.

==Notes==
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==References==
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Categories: Anti-imperialism, Creationists, Christians, Feminists, Former U.S. Cabinet Members, Former United States Representatives, Journalists, Lawyers, Left-wing activists, Perennial candidates, United States presidential candidates, United States politicians