1896 Democratic National Convention

1896 Democratic National Convention

1896 presidential election
Nominees Bryan and Sewall
Convention
Date(s)	July 7–11, 1896
City	Chicago, Illinois
Venue	Chicago Coliseum
Candidates
Presidential nominee	William J. Bryan of Nebraska
Vice presidential nominee	Arthur Sewall of Maine
‹ 1892 · 1900 ›

Inside the convention hall

The 1896 Democratic National Convention, held at the Chicago Coliseum from July 7 to July 11, was the scene of William Jennings Bryan's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate for the 1896 U.S. presidential election.

At age 36, Bryan was the youngest presidential nominee in American history, only one year older than the constitutional minimum. Bryan's keynote "Cross of Gold" address, delivered prior to his nomination, lambasted Eastern monied classes for supporting the gold standard at the expense of the average worker. This was a repudiation of Cleveland administration's policy, but proved popular with the delegates to the convention.

Bryan secured the nomination on the fifth ballot over Richard P. Bland. Bryan declined to choose a Democratic vice presidential nominee, leaving the choice to his fellow delegates. Arthur Sewall of Maine was nominated on the fifth ballot. Bryan and Sewall ultimately lost to the Republican candidates, William McKinley and Garret Hobart.