He was a progressive.
He advocated for economic reforms, including the free coinage of silver, which he believed would help farmers and working-class Americans.
As a leader of the Populist movement, he supported regulatory welfare state policies and stood for human rights.
Bryan fought against monopolies, banks, and corruption, positioning himself as a defender of the common people.
He was a demagogue.
His passionate oratory and ability to sway crowds with emotional appeals sometimes overshadowed substantive policy discussions.
Bryan’s literal interpretation of the Bible and his role in the Scopes Trial positioned him as a fundamentalist opposing the teaching of evolution, which some viewed as anti-intellectual.
His rhetoric often relied on portraying himself as a champion of the majority, which could be seen as pandering to popular sentiment.
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