Who supported the gold bugs of 1896?

The gold bugs of 1896 were primarily supported by wealthy industrialists, bankers, and conservative politicians who advocated for the gold standard as the basis of U.S. currency. Prominent figures such as President Grover Cleveland and the financial elite of Wall Street backed the gold standard, believing it would stabilize the economy and prevent inflation. They opposed the free silver movement, which sought to increase the money supply by allowing for the free coinage of silver, fearing it would lead to economic instability.