Lesson 20: Pre-Progressivism
In this lesson politics between 1884 and 1900 will be discussed.
Grover Cleveland - was elected in 1884 as President. He was the first Democrat to be elected since the Civil War. He was the only president to marry while in the White House. He became unpopular due to going over the federal budget. He did it to give pensions to Civil War veterans. Although people were happy the veterans were getting pensions, they were not happy that Cleveland went over budget. After a close election, Cleveland would lose to Benjamin Harrison.
Benjamin Harrison - won the electoral vote in 1888, but lost the popular vote. His name was very recognizable because his uncle, William Henry Harrison, had been President of the United States. Benjamin Harrison's downfall was his strong belief in predestination. Predestination is the belief that a person is pre-ordained or chosen to do certain things in their lives and it has ben predetermined what will happen when they die (exalted or not). He believed in this so strongly he told everyone that his will must be a Supreme Being's will. It made a lot of people unhappy. He also passed a tariff (taxes on imports from other countries) which caused inflation. Debtos were happy, but the rich were very unhappy. Because of this, Democrats would take the majority of seats in Congress in 1890. During the Presidential election to follow, Grover Cleveland would beat Benjamin Harrison (1892).
Grover Cleveland - is the only president to win non-consecutive elections. In 1893, a panic set in. The panic was created by over speculation and the influx of silver into the economic system. The Poleman's strike (workers on the railroad) also took place during these four years. All of the railroads were shut down for a time. Cleveland would be blamed for both the strike and the panic.
Election of 1896 - was between William McKinley (Republican) and William Jennings Bryan (Democrat). McKinley was for big business and gold, while Bryan believed that silver was the solution for the economy. The book, The Wizard of Oz, was written about them and this election. In the book, Dorothy wears silver slippers. The movie had her wear ruby slippers because Technicolor was new and the producers wanted to show off the use of color. Dorothy follows the yellow brick road to Oz. The yellow bricks were a representation of gold. The wizard is a representation of William McKinley, who is portrayed as a fraud and really not able to solve Dorothy's problems. It is only through the silver slippers that Dorothy is able to return home. As far as the election goes, McKinley would win.
In 1900, McKinley would win again, getting a boost from the United States' victory in the Spanish-American war and his running partner, Theodore Roosevelt. Watch the video and read about the Spanish American war here: http://www.history.com/topics/spanish-american-war
Grover Cleveland - was elected in 1884 as President. He was the first Democrat to be elected since the Civil War. He was the only president to marry while in the White House. He became unpopular due to going over the federal budget. He did it to give pensions to Civil War veterans. Although people were happy the veterans were getting pensions, they were not happy that Cleveland went over budget. After a close election, Cleveland would lose to Benjamin Harrison.
Benjamin Harrison - won the electoral vote in 1888, but lost the popular vote. His name was very recognizable because his uncle, William Henry Harrison, had been President of the United States. Benjamin Harrison's downfall was his strong belief in predestination. Predestination is the belief that a person is pre-ordained or chosen to do certain things in their lives and it has ben predetermined what will happen when they die (exalted or not). He believed in this so strongly he told everyone that his will must be a Supreme Being's will. It made a lot of people unhappy. He also passed a tariff (taxes on imports from other countries) which caused inflation. Debtos were happy, but the rich were very unhappy. Because of this, Democrats would take the majority of seats in Congress in 1890. During the Presidential election to follow, Grover Cleveland would beat Benjamin Harrison (1892).
Grover Cleveland - is the only president to win non-consecutive elections. In 1893, a panic set in. The panic was created by over speculation and the influx of silver into the economic system. The Poleman's strike (workers on the railroad) also took place during these four years. All of the railroads were shut down for a time. Cleveland would be blamed for both the strike and the panic.
Election of 1896 - was between William McKinley (Republican) and William Jennings Bryan (Democrat). McKinley was for big business and gold, while Bryan believed that silver was the solution for the economy. The book, The Wizard of Oz, was written about them and this election. In the book, Dorothy wears silver slippers. The movie had her wear ruby slippers because Technicolor was new and the producers wanted to show off the use of color. Dorothy follows the yellow brick road to Oz. The yellow bricks were a representation of gold. The wizard is a representation of William McKinley, who is portrayed as a fraud and really not able to solve Dorothy's problems. It is only through the silver slippers that Dorothy is able to return home. As far as the election goes, McKinley would win.
In 1900, McKinley would win again, getting a boost from the United States' victory in the Spanish-American war and his running partner, Theodore Roosevelt. Watch the video and read about the Spanish American war here: http://www.history.com/topics/spanish-american-war
Assignment # 6
1. What is the significance of the The Wizard of Oz?
2. Which president served non-consecutive terms?
3. What four territories were taken by the United States during the Spanish-American war?
4. Who was the leader of the "rough riders"?
5. Explain the concept of pre-destination.
2. Which president served non-consecutive terms?
3. What four territories were taken by the United States during the Spanish-American war?
4. Who was the leader of the "rough riders"?
5. Explain the concept of pre-destination.