Final answer:
William Jennings Bryan gave his Cross of Gold speech at the 1896 Democratic convention to argue against the gold standard and defend the interests of working Americans. The main point of his speech was to criticize the gold standard and its impact on labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cross of Gold Speech
William Jennings Bryan gave his Cross of Gold speech at the Democratic presidential nomination convention in 1896. He delivered this speech to argue against the Republican support for the gold standard and advocate for a bimetal or silver standard. The main point of his speech was to defend the interests of working Americans and criticize the gold standard, which he believed would harm labor and favor the wealthy. His passionate ending, where he mentioned the crown of thorns and the cross of gold, expressed his belief that the gold standard would lead to the suffering of labor.