July 4, 1900, Democratic National Convention, William Jennings Bryan Nominee

Why This Ticket Matters

The 1900 Democratic National Convention opened on Independence Day at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri, and again selected William Jennings Bryan as its presidential nominee.

Bryan had electrified the party four years earlier with his “Cross of Gold” speech. In 1900, he returned to challenge President William McKinley in a rematch shaped by debates over American expansion, monetary policy and the country’s growing international power.

This ticket is a surviving artifact from the opening day of a national convention and from one of the defining political rivalries of the turn of the twentieth century.

Seller’s note: Historical information in this “Why This Ticket Matters” section is presented for general context and has not been independently verified for correctness.