What did William Jennings Bryan cross of gold speech call for?

William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech, delivered at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, called for the free coinage of silver to inflate the currency and support farmers and working-class Americans. He argued that the gold standard favored the wealthy and industrialists at the expense of the common people. His passionate rhetoric emphasized the struggles of the impoverished and advocated for economic reform to alleviate their burdens. The speech became a pivotal moment in American politics, symbolizing the Populist movement's push for monetary reform.