What is some information about Benjamin Harrison?

Answer 1

President: Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 - March 13, 1901)

Term: March 4, 1889 - March 4, 1893

Background: Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio to a notorious family that was well known for its political activism. His family was one of the first families to reach Virginia dating back to the time when Englishmen first reached the New World. Harrison was also the grandson of the President William Henry Harrison. In 1847, Harrison enrolled in Farmer's College near Cincinnati, Ohio and stayed for two years, until he was transferred to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He became a Presbyterian member during his time at Miami University, and stayed a member for the rest of his life like his mother. After he finished college, he then began to study law in the Cincinnati law office of Storer & Gwynne. He was then admitted into the bar in the office of John H. Ray. During the time of the Civil War, Harrison wished to join the Union army, but due to his family needing his financial support, he felt like he was unable to. He then helped out by recruiting men, and later went on to become a Brigadier General in the Union Army. Harrison was also a United States Senator from Indiana and was in office from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1887.

Political Party: Republican

Vice-President: Levi P. Morton

Major Domestic Policy: At this time, a majority of major businesses contained monopolies and high rates. Hence, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 was passed. The act was very week, since its laws were very vague and resulted in trust unable to be disfigured. Another major issue at the time was the idea over the tariff. William McKinley and the Republicans supported the high tariff advising that it would help the economy. After the Republicans allowed for silver legislation to the Western farmers, they agreed to pass the high tariff. The silver legislation stated the National Government would buy 4.5 million ounces of silver at market price a month. Farmers from the west still were in support for unlimited coinage of silver in order for an increase of specie in use to cause inflation. The Granger believes became more abundant and power during this time. It grew even more during the election of 1892 and the rise of Omaha platform, which was a party grown from the Populist Party. They were the demands of reforming farmers. They pushed for things such as graduated income tax, the direct election of Senators and use of discretionary ballots.

Major Foreign Policy: Harrison mainly looked towards gaining new territories during his term. He worked well with James G. Blaine, which was his Secretary of State because of the fact that they both had a major desire to strengthen the power of the United States. James G. Blaine took a very violent approach when looking towards gaining new territories for the United States, such as the Samoan conflict when the United States established its first land area far from its shores. Blaine wanted to replace Great Britain as the major supplier of goods in Latin America. Then the Pan-American conference was put into session in the 1890s, but Latin American nations were scared of the power and size of American, so they sheltered themselves from any obligations.

Court Case:

• In re Neagle (1889)-Held that the Attorney General of the United States had the power to assign bodyguards to the Supreme Court Justices that were U.S. Marshals.

Intellectual and Social Developments:

• As Industrialization was increasing more and more in the United States, by 1890, America had finally beaten the amount of steel and iron output then in Britain.

• The amount of immigrants from the southeastern Europe was increasing dramatically as they were in search for factory work.

• The Populist Party came about in 1892 as farmers united.

• The promotion of Social Darwinism and Anglo-Saxonism was strong, and spreading across the United States.

Harrison's Legacy: Harrison will be known for being able to make a speech and gaining all attention from the crowd. Though he was not the best president, he did not rank as one of the worst. He did help the United States by gaining more power with foreign countries with his support for the annexation of Hawaii. One downside to Harrison was the fact that he mistakenly supported the McKinley Tariff and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which were major results of the Panic of 1893; the greatest depression up until that time.