On this episode of Our American Stories, as industrial America surged forward in the late 19th century, millions of farmers and working Americans felt left behind by falling crop prices, mounting debt, and economic upheaval. Into that unrest stepped William Jennings Bryan, a fiery young politician from Nebraska whose famous “Cross of Gold” speech in Chicago transformed him into the leading voice of the downtrodden and forgotten.

In this installment of our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Dr. Wilfred McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares the tale of the fierce national debate over money, democracy, and economic power that would reshape America at the dawn of the 20th century.

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