Adecisive factor in the republican victory in the 1896 presidential election was:
a. the divisions in the democratic party.
b. international investors' warning that america should never abandon the gold standard.
c. the return of prosperity just prior to the election.
d. mckinley's vigorous campaigning.
e. fear of william jennings bryan as a dangerous pro-silver radical.

The answer is:

a. the divisions in the Democratic party.

Explanation:

In 1896 William McKinley won the presidential election.

After the economic depression of 1893, the main issue was the country’s money supply,and even the Democratic Party—was split between those who favored the gold standard and those who favored free silver, a type of currency inflation, to help alleviate the depression.

Mark Hanna ( Mckinley`s friend) raised millions for a campaign of education with trainloads of pamphlets to convince the voters that free silver would be harmful.