Unit 7 Presidents
U.S. Presidents (1890-1945): Oversight, Policies, and Personality
Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) – Republican
Oversaw:
Economic and Business Policies
McKinley Tariff (1890): Raised tariffs to 49.5%, benefiting big businesses but hurting farmers.
Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): First federal law against monopolies, though weakly enforced.
Billion-Dollar Congress: Increased federal spending, leading to criticism.
Labor and Domestic Issues
Homestead Strike (1892): Violent steelworker strike crushed by private security forces.
Forest Reserve Act (1891): Allowed the president to set aside land for conservation.
Foreign Affairs
Strengthened the U.S. Navy, modernizing warships.
Pushed for Hawaiian annexation, though it was later delayed by Cleveland.
Personality & Leadership:
Cold and reserved, often criticized for lacking charisma.
Grandson of President William Henry Harrison.
Lost reelection in 1892 due to economic downturn and unpopular tariffs.
Grover Cleveland (1893-1897) – Democrat
Oversaw:
Economic Crisis and Government Response
Panic of 1893: Worst economic depression of the 19th century. Cleveland refused government intervention.
Gold Standard Defense: Repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, alienating farmers and pro-silver advocates.
Labor and Social Unrest
Pullman Strike (1894): Sent federal troops to break railway strikes, resulting in violence.
Foreign Policy
Opposed the 1893 overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in Hawaii but failed to restore her to power.
Personality & Leadership:
Blunt, anti-corruption, and pro-business; refused to cater to populists.
Only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
Unpopular due to economic hardship, leading to a Republican victory in 1896.
William McKinley (1897-1901) – Republican
Oversaw:
Economic Growth and Currency Stability
Dingley Tariff (1897): Raised tariffs to protect U.S. industries.
Gold Standard Act (1900): Established gold as the sole standard for U.S. currency.
Imperialism and War
Spanish-American War (1898): Defeated Spain and acquired Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Annexation of Hawaii (1898): Secured strategic naval bases in the Pacific.
Philippine-American War (1899-1902): Brutal guerrilla conflict in the newly acquired Philippines.
Foreign Trade and Diplomacy
Open Door Policy (1899): Prevented European nations from carving up China.
Personality & Leadership:
Calm, strategic, and pro-business.
Popular due to economic recovery and war victories.
Assassinated in 1901, leading to Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency.
Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) – Republican
Oversaw:
Progressive Reforms and Labor Rights
Trust-busting: Used the Sherman Antitrust Act to break up monopolies like Standard Oil.
Hepburn Act (1906): Strengthened railroad regulations.
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906): Led to the creation of the FDA.
Foreign Policy & Imperialism
Panama Canal Construction (1904-1914): Ensured U.S. naval dominance.
Roosevelt Corollary (1904): Gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Latin America.
Great White Fleet (1907-1909): Sent U.S. warships worldwide to display power.
Conservation Movement
Created national parks, forests, and wildlife reserves.
Personality & Leadership:
Energetic, aggressive, and loved publicity.
Champion of the "strenuous life."
Declined to run in 1908 but returned in 1912 as a third-party candidate.
William Howard Taft (1909-1913) – Republican
Oversaw:
Trust-busting and Business Regulation
Broke up twice as many monopolies as Roosevelt.
Mann-Elkins Act (1910): Gave more power to regulate railroads.
Foreign Affairs
Dollar Diplomacy: Encouraged U.S. investment in Latin America and China.
Tariffs and Party Division
Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909): Angered progressives by failing to lower tariffs significantly.
Personality & Leadership:
More comfortable as a judge than a politician.
Struggled with leadership and lost progressive support.
Later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) – Democrat
Oversaw:
Economic and Social Reforms
Federal Reserve Act (1913): Created the modern central banking system.
Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): Strengthened anti-monopoly laws.
World War I (1917-1918)
Declared war after Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare.
Espionage & Sedition Acts (1917-1918): Criminalized anti-war speech.
Postwar Diplomacy & League of Nations
Proposed Fourteen Points and the League of Nations.
U.S. never joined due to Senate opposition.
Personality & Leadership:
Idealistic, intellectual, and rigid.
Suffered a stroke in 1919, leaving him incapacitated.
Warren G. Harding (1921-1923) – Republican
Oversaw:
Pro-business and Isolationist Policies
"Return to Normalcy" (1920): Ended progressive reforms.
Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922): First major arms reduction treaty.
Corruption and Scandal
Teapot Dome Scandal (1921-1923): Bribery over oil leases.
Personality & Leadership:
Friendly but weak-willed; heavily influenced by corrupt advisors.
Died suddenly in 1923.
Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) – Republican
Oversaw:
Laissez-Faire Economics
Cut taxes and government spending.
"The business of America is business."
Immigration and Foreign Policy
Immigration Act of 1924: Severely restricted immigration.
Personality & Leadership:
Nicknamed "Silent Cal."
Pro-business, avoided activism.
Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) – Republican
Oversaw:
Stock Market Crash (1929) and Great Depression
Opposed direct government intervention.
Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930): Worsened economic collapse.
Personality & Leadership:
Humanitarian but lacked political skills.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) – Democrat
Oversaw:
New Deal (1933-1939): Major government intervention in the economy.
World War II (1941-1945): Led the U.S. to victory.
Personality & Leadership:
Charismatic, master communicator.
Died in office in 1945.