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Benjamin Harrison Takes Office
The only grandson of a president to also hold the office, Ben Harrison split the terms of Grover Cleveland. He wanted the reverse of Cleveland, to increase purchase of silver (appealing to the people in the West), and he favored higher protective tariffs (appealing business interests in the East). His victories were short lived - -
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Benjamin Harrison Administration
The only grandson of a president to also hold the office, Ben Harrison split the terms of Grover Cleveland. He wanted the reverse of Cleveland, to increase purchase of silver (appealing to the people in the West), and he favored higher protective tariffs (appealing business interests in the East). His victories were short lived - -
Dependent and Disability Pensions Act
A veteran himself, Harrison signed this law which extended cash payments to veterans disabled from nonmilitary causes and to veterans’ dependents. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act (VUS.8d)
The first anti-trust law which made it illegal to create trusts that “conspired to restrain trade”. The law was vague, and proved very difficult to enforce. Later, Theodore Roosevelt would use this act to become a “trust buster”. Read MORE -
Sherman Silver Purchase Act (VUS.8d)
Harrison had promised support of this in exchange for support on the McKinley Tariff. The US Treasury was required to purchase 4.5 million ounces of silver each month at market value, with notes that could be redeemed for silver OR gold. Most people chose gold, and this depleted America’s gold supply. It would be repealed in 1893. Read MORE -
McKinley Tariff Act (VUS.8d)
The highest peace-time tariff up to that time, the intention was to protect American industry and agriculture. The effect was a noticeably increase in consumer prices – and voters responded by voting against the Republicans in 1890 and in 1892. MORE -
Ellis Island is Opened (VUS.8a)
Immigrants poured into America, and many of those from Europe had to pass through Ellis Island to be processed. Read about the Rush of Immigrants which would help build America’s industrial might. Read MORE about the period of massive immigration! -
Mob Destroys Ida B. Wells Newspaper Offices (VUS.8c)
Ida B. Wells was a newspaper editor who championed for a national law against lynching. She had witnessed three of her friends hanged at the hands of a white mob, and she was not afraid to speak out. Wells, who was born into slavery, worked with other Civil Rights leaders of the time. Even though Congress failed her – she raised much awareness of the lynching epidemic. MORE -
The Homestead Strike (VUS.8d)
At Andrew Carnegie’s Homestead Steel Mill, striking workers turned violent as they attacked “scab” workers. Carnegie hired about 300 Pinkertons (private policemen) to come in and break up the strikers. The state militia was finally called in after the violence escalated. The news of this national event further alienated labor unions from public support. Read MORE
