Wall Street's Response to Bryan's Presidential Campaign

Explanation:

Wall Street decided to launch a campaign against William Jennings Bryan during his run for the presidency. Bryan's push for the silver standard and regulation of big businesses, such as banks and corporations, put him at odds with the financial and corporate interests of Wall Street.

Specifically, Bryan's campaign called for tougher regulation of Wall Street and federal insurance for bank deposits, reforms that were not aligned with the interests of Wall Street bankers and investors. Thus, Wall Street saw Bryan's policies as a threat to their interests and preferred the policies of the Republican candidates who supported a gold-based standard and high protective tariffs.

In the presidential campaigns of 1896 and 1908, when Bryan ran for president, Wall Street and the Republicans favored a gold standard and protective tariffs, endorsing candidates like William McKinley and William Howard Taft who supported these policies.

The financial sector's opposition to Bryan was evident as they aligned with the Republican candidates who upheld the financial policies that they believed would benefit the economy and their own interests. Hence, Wall Street and big businesses did not endorse Bryan's campaign, did not remain neutral, nor did they ally with him.