an unsuccessful campaign in late 19th-century U.S. for unlimited coinage of silver; supported by owners of silver mines, farmers, and debtors; a law of 1873 (called the Crime of 1873) dropped silver coinage in favor of gold standard; with nomination of William Jennings Bryan in 1896 (memorable for his “Cross of Gold” speech) movement to reinstate silver captured Democratic Party in 1890s; became a symbol of economic justice; campaign persisted, without success, until after the Great Depression