Discuss the significance of the Presidential Election of 1896

The presidential election of 1896 brought about a major
change in American politics.  After this election, American presidential politics became
less class-based and the Republican Party came to dominate presidential politics until
the Great Depression.

The 1896 election was presented to
the voters as a choice between the Free Silver Democrats (trying to represent the
underprivileged farmers and workers) against the Republicans and the gold standard.  The
Democrats tried to paint the Republicans as the party of the wealthy few.  This did not
work and McKinley defeated Bryan very decisively.

After
this, politics became much less class-based and the Republicans dominated the presidency
until the Depression.