A People's America

[msnmllr]

So quick intro for everyone:

This TL is concerning a more Populist America (as in 1890's Populist, not Trumptard Populist), and will start off with the 1896 Presidential election. For those wondering, my other TL https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=239749.0 is still running, although some response would be nice...

Anyways, let's begin:


Grover Cleveland's second victory seemed to most everyone as a great victory, save for Republicans and only the die-hard Populists. However, Cleveland's legislation further separated the divide between Gold Democrats and Silver Democrats/Populists who supported Democrats in the election. President Cleveland killed all hopes of bimetallism or moving towards silver. At this point, the fringe Democrats knew that their cries wouldn't be answered, and decided to fuse with the Populist Party. Although the Populist Party leadership knew that they could finally compete for the Oval Office, there was one other group that was even happier. The Republican Party realized that with the split between the Democrats, the race to 224 votes would be easier than ever.


Party Conventions will be up next

[Progressive]

Nice start

[msnmllr]

Conventions Time!!!

Republican National Convention:

Although McKinley was technically competing against Senator William B. Allison, almost everyone knew that McKinley was going to win the nomination. Allison only carried the rural/Great Plains states.

Democratic Party Convention:

For the first time in a while, the Democratic Party seemed to be in shambles. The Convention was a total bloodbath, in which it required 6 recounts in order to finally come to a consensus on who'd attempt to keep the Democratic Party within the White House. Senator John M. Palmer of Illinois was able to win the nomination after finally winning the 6th recount, in which Ohio flipped from President Cleveland to Palmer. Speaking of Cleveland, the President attempted to do something that no candidate has done before: to run for President 16 years in a row. However, Democratic support of Cleveland was relatively limited, as all of his support was from the Northeast. As is predicted, the South decided to back their own candidate in John G. Carlisle of Kentucky. Most pundits believe that Southerners only voted for him because he came from a Southern state, whereas the rest of the "big" candidates were from the North or the West. Finally, Julius Sterling Morton attempted to reunite the Democratic party, with most of his support coming from the Great Plains and Wisconsin

Populist Party Convention:

The second Populist Party convention occurred in Omaha, Nebraska. William Jennings Brian was able to win the nomination, as he was a compromise between the Silver Democrats and Populists. However, the second highest winning candidate was No Vote, as the Southern states deemed the Populist Party as too radical, and felt that the new party would destroy any hopes of the Democrats winning the presidency again. The other candidate was James Weaver, who was actually seen as a radical, as he said that industrialization would corrupt the nation, and that a new social system should be implemented, in which there was no class, and that the government was exclusively run by people who aren't "sitting on golden thrones"

Election results next

[msnmllr]

Election of 1896:

Governor William McKinley(R-OH)/Senator Garrett Hobart(R-NJ): 224 EVs
Senator John M. Palmer(D-IL)/United States Secretary of Agriculture Julius Sterling Morton (D-NE): 136 EVs
Senator William Jennings Bryan(P-NE)/Representative Richard P. Bland (P-MI): 87 EVs

The Populists knew wholeheartedly that victory would be impossible, given the current political climate. However, the Populist leadership knew that the election could be changed, either for the better or the worst. McKinley campaigned the least, as he knew that the two other parties were practically waging war on one another for second. Jennings campaigned aggressively in the outer Midwest, which allowed for him to narrowly win Minnesota. Additionally, Bryan scrape by with Missouri, thanks to the name recognition of Representative Bland. The  National Democrats wanted to prove that they were still strong, even without the assistance of the Silver Democrats. However, as polling continued, it became apparent that unless things turn around, the Democratic Party will only ever win the South. However, at the last hour of election day, it was announced that Palmer won his home state by 107 votes.

Cabinet and other elections next!!! Can I get some comments, if at all possible