-
Period: to
Grover Cleveland – The Sequel
Cleveland spent much of his efforts, with a more cooperative Congress this time, attempting to un-do what Harrison had done! Again, Cleveland is the only President to serve two terms that were not consecutive…The tariff and silver were the big issues in the election of 1892, and they had to deal with a rising third party, The Populists. -
Queen Liliuokalani and Hawaii (VUS.9a)
On January 17, 1893, American businessmen and settlers overthrew the reigning Queen and petitioned to be annexed by the United States. In spite of economic and potential military interests, Cleveland was outraged and threw out the request (which had been sent to the Senate by President Harrison). She was returned to the throne – but forced out again in 1896. MORE -
Panic of 1893
Kicked off by the failure of a large railroad and dwindling gold reserves, an economic slump hit the US and Europe – and lasted about 4 years. MORE -
American Railway Union Founded (VUS.8d)
Led by Eugene V. Debs, this union was open to skilled and unskilled laborers. Any job that had anything to do with railroads was accepted – from steel workers to coal miners. Debs would later become the leader of the Socialist Party of the United States. Read MORE -
Cleveland Takes Office - again
Cleveland spent much of his efforts, with a more cooperative Congress this time, attempting to un-do what Harrison had done! Again, Cleveland is the only President to serve two terms that were not consecutive…The tariff and silver were the big issues in the election of 1892, and they had to deal with a rising third party, The Populists. -
Repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act
Believing that the economic slump was partially caused by the near unlimited coinage of silver, Cleveland demanded a stable currency and pressed for the repeal. -
Pullman Strike (VUS.8d)
Workers for the Pullman Palace Car Company saw their wages slashed and prices of goods increased. The strike quickly spread to other railroad companies – organized by Eugene V. Debs and the American Railway Union, the strike took a violent turn. President Cleveland dispatched federal troops to break the strike. Read MORE -
Wilson-Gorman Act
This act reduced the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 – but Cleveland protested that it did not lower the tariff enough! -
Plessy v. Ferguson - "separate but equal" (VUS.8c)
This case challenged the segregation laws of the South as a violation of the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court (dominated by Southerners at the time) made its famous “separate but equal” ruling – allowing segregation and Jim Crow laws to continue in the South. MORE
