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  • Gold Standard Defense: Repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, alienating farmers and pro-silver advocates.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.