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The “Forgotten” Presidents

The “Forgotten” Presidents. Mrs. Carter. Chinese Immigration. Arrived on the West coast- San Francisco Began arriving in 1840s&50s- WHY? Faced greater difficulties when immigrating during the 1870s- WHY?. Discrimination. Americans were concerned about their own unemployment

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The “Forgotten” Presidents

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  1. The “Forgotten” Presidents Mrs. Carter

  2. Chinese Immigration • Arrived on the West coast- San Francisco • Began arriving in 1840s&50s- WHY? • Faced greater difficulties when immigrating during the 1870s- WHY?

  3. Discrimination • Americans were concerned about their own unemployment • Didn’t want jobs going to minorities • Chinese (Asians, in general) were visibly different- easily targeted and discriminated against

  4. Chinese Exclusion Act • Passed in 1882 by President Chester Arthur • Prohibited Chinese immigration • Prohibited Chinese from becoming citizens • Extended 10 more years in 1892 and became permanent in 1902 • Repealed in 1943

  5. President Arthur 1881-1884

  6. Election of 1880 • Republican ticket = Garfield and Arthur • Democratic ticket = Winfield Scott Hancock • Garfield wins • Shot and killed by a “fan” who expected to receive a place in office • Replaced by Arthur

  7. Reform in Politics • Pendleton Act of 1883- Civil Service reform • Created the Civil Service Commission to make “appointments to federal jobs on the basis of competitive examinations” instead of patronage and the spoils systems. • Made it illegal to require campaign contributions from federal employees • Intention was to end the spoils system/patronage

  8. Response • Shocked those expecting to be given a job • Party did not choose to re-elect him • Some believed reform was necessary after Garfield’s death Unintended Consequences: • Created a financial dependence between politicians and big business.

  9. Cleveland’s Presidency Part I: 1885-1888

  10. Election of 1884 • Republicans- James G. Blaine • Democrats- Grover Cleveland • Issues: Mudslinging • Blaine- history of corruption, “Mulligan letters” • Mugwumps- Republicans who couldn’t stomach the thought of Blaine as their candidate and decided to support the Democratic party • Cleveland- affair, illegitimate child

  11. Cleveland won! • Questions over the ability of the Democratic party to run the nation after the Civil War • Laissez-faire policies • Major issue: tariff- wanted to lower the tariff • US had an annual surplus- Cleveland believed it was unnecessary and the tariff should be reduced

  12. Why lower the tariff? • Lower prices for consumers • Less protection for monopolies • End to the Treasury suplus

  13. Result? • Republican party garnered support from businesses to defeat Cleveland in the election of 1888 • Raised a $3 million campaign fund • WHY? • William Henry Harrison (Rep) became president

  14. Harrison’s Presidency 1889-1892

  15. McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 • Raised the tariff to the highest rate- 48% • Hurt farmers the most • Had to purchase expensive manufactured goods • Sold agr products to world markets • New 3rd party- Farmer’s Alliance- gained Congressional seats • Followed by the Populist (People’s Party)

  16. Cleveland Part 2: 1893-1896

  17. Depression of 1893 CAUSES EFFECTS • Speculation • Labor problems • Agricultural depression • Free-silver issue • Poor credit abroad • Collapse of American businesses • Unemployment • Homelessness • Local charaties

  18. The SILVER ISSUE • Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890)- was part of the agreement that led to the passage of the McKinley Tariff. Dems voted for the tariff in return the Reps voted for silver. • Act stated that the Treasury would purchase a set amount of silver each month at market rates AND the Treasury would issue notes redeemable in gold or silver.

  19. Government purchase will equal the output by silver mines. • Increased supply of silver led to a decrease in value • Mine owners tried to cut costs by cutting wages- led to labor disputes and violence • Silver value decreased = people redeemed government notes for gold = depletion of gold in Treasury = repeal of Silver Purchase Act

  20. How did this impact Cleveland? • Gold reserve in the Treasury was dropping rapidly • Foreign governments were losing faith in American money • Cleveland borrowed money from JP Morgan (NY financier) • Americans concerned about the connection between big business and the federal government

  21. Wilson-Gorman Tariff • Planned to lower the tariff • Special interest protections were added to the bill in Congress • Did not change the McKinley Tariff by much • Also intended a 2% income tax- deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

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