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11 Cards in this Set
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Andrew Johnson (Democrat) 1865-1869 |
He believed the South should Reconstruct themselves. He Vetoed the Reconstruction Act (1867) which stated that all previous measures to reintegrate Southern states were void. Johnson played into Congress's hands and sacked his War Secretary. This led to his impeachment which he avoided by 1 vote. |
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Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) 1869-1877 |
Strengths- He passed the 15th Amendment (1870) which proposed that 'the right to vote was not to be denied on account of race, colour or previous servitude'. Passed Enforcement and KKK Acts (1870-71). Weaknesses- He was weakened by the economic depression that followed the stock market panic of 1873. Political and financial corruption e.g Black Friday Scandal of 1869- The Gould Ring of Gould and Fisk allowed them to control the New York Stock Market. Whiskey Ring Scandal (1875) Government officials helped distillers evade federal taxes on the whiskey they produced and sold. |
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Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) 1877-1881 |
Strengths- Appointed Female attorneys. The compromise of 1877 in which federal troops left the South, marked the end of Reconstruction. Weaknesses- His political opponents were strengthened by the Compromise of 1877- The Southern political system became dominated by democrats. He was undermined by a narrow election victory and his promise not to seek re-election in 1880. Black voting rights were undermined and the position of black agricultural workers deteriorated. |
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Chester A. Arthur (Republican) 1881-85 |
Strengths- Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act- It ensured continuity whereby government jobs were given based on a person's ability and not a person's politics. He strengthened the US Navy and adopted a hands off approach towards big business. Weaknesses- He signed the first federal immigration law that excluded paupers, criminals and the mentally ill. Congress passed a Chinese Exclusion Act that made Chinese Immigration illegal for 20 years and wouldn't grant US citizenship to those already in the US. Despite Arthur vetoing this, he signed a revised bill that wasn't as harsh.
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Grover Cleveland (Democrat) 1885-89 |
Strengths- He convinced Congress to repeal the Tenure of Office Act so that he could remove officials appointed by the previous administration without having to wait until their terms expired. He continued to reform the Civil Service. Weaknesses- He was known for vetoing bills passed by Congress such as the private pension bills for American Civil War Veterans and the Texas Seed Bill which helped farmers in Texas after the drought. Foreign Policy- Cleveland's foreign policy emphasised opposition to territorial expansion and entangling alliances. His most controversial action was his interference in a boundary dispute between Venezuela and Great Britain; believing that the British were violating the Monroe Doctrine, Cleveland threatened a war against Britain. This affair brought the Monroe Doctrine back to life as the basis of US foreign policy in South America. |
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Benjamin Harrison (Republican) 1889-93 |
Strengths- Billion Dollar Congress over $1 billion was spent on measures to improve harbours, rivers, roads and transport systems. Benefits for Civil War Veterans- Pension Act 1890 Weaknesses- Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) was an attempt to limit the power of trusts, and 'to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies' however, it was not effectively or consistently enforced. The McKinley Tariff raised import duty to 50% to protect businesses from foreign competition but other countries responded by not buying American foodstuff thus affecting farmers. Foreign Policy- On the international front, Harrison was the most active president since Lincoln. He convened the first Pan-American Conference in 1889. He continued to strengthen the Navy and was responsible for the building of the Panama Canal. |
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Grover Cleveland (Democrat) 1893-1897 |
It is fairly safe to say that Cleveland's second term in office as President of the United States, was much more difficult than his first. He was left to deal with the 'Panic of 1893', in which he negotiated a loan of $62 million and became known as the 'Puppet of Wall Street'. Cleveland's forceful response to the 1894 Pullman Strike suggested he was not of man of the people, not did he care about the workers and industrial relations. |
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William McKinley (Republican) (1897-1901) |
Strengths- Rolled back regulations on big business. Economic Growth- Committed the US to the Gold Standard (by which the value of a currency was defined in terms of Gold, for which the currency could be exchanged). Open door trade policy with China. Imperialism- Victory over Spain in Cuba. Annexed Hawaii. Territorial gains in Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. Weaknesses- Assassinated by an anarchist in 1901. The Dingley Tariff Act Increased tariffs. |
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Theodore Roosevelt (Republican) 1901-1909 |
Strengths- Used the Sherman Antitrust Act to dissolve JP Morgan's Northern Securities Company (a railroad company). In 1901, he used the Forest Reserve Act to protect forests from big business. Pelican Island established in 1903 as a National Wildlife Refuge. Foreign Policy- Under Roosevelt, America became a dominant player on the world stage. 'Open door' trade policy with China and Japan. The Panama Canal showcased superior American technology. Square Deal- 1902: intervened in Miners' strike on the side of the miners- got them a pay rise and a shorter working day. 1903: Empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission to impose heavy fines on both railroad companies who offered rebates to big business concerns, and those who accepted them. 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act, Meat Inspections Act Weaknesses- Criticised for being an imperialist. Controversial because TR encouraged and supported a revolution in Panama against the legitimate government of Colombia. Human cost of Panama. Criticised for his arrogance in assuming police power in Latin America. |
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William H. Taft (Republican) 1909-1913 |
Strengths- During his 4 years as president, 90 anti trust suits; took on Standard Oil which was ordered to break up. 1910: Established El Dorado National Forest. 1913: 16th Amendment focused on income tax. Foreign Policy: Taft supported railroad projects in China to block Russian and Japanese influence in the region, using finance from JP Morgan. Dollar diplomacy in Honduras and Nicaragua in Latin America, and Haiti in the Caribbean with his aim being to increase American influence in trade and commerce. In Honduras and Nicaragua, Taft took financial control in both countries. |
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Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) 1913-21 |
Strengths- Federal Reserve Act in 1913 created the central banking system of the United States. 1916: Federal Farm loan act gave low cost loans to farmers. The Adamson Act of 1916 established an eight-hour workday, with additional pay overtime work, for interstate railroad workers. 19th Amendment in 1919 gave women the vote. Weaknesses- Espionage, Sabotage and Sedition Act made it illegal to criticise the government. 18th Amendment in 1919 introduced national Prohibition. He reintroduced Jim Crow Laws in the south and introduced racial segregation in the army. Foreign Policy- Increased US influence in China by recognising the new Nationalist government in 1912. Gave the Colombian government $25 million. Annexed Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in 1916. Joined the war in 1917 and helped shape the post war peace. Sent troops to Haiti and the Dominican Republic in 1915 to restore order after revolutions. Gave independence and territorial status to the Philippines through the 1916 Jones Act. |
