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Unit 6 - U.S. Imperialism & WWI

Lecture # 1

Presidents (1877-1901)AZ State Sdn S1C7PO3A-H

Created by SMHS Staff 10-9-07

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Objective:

• Analyze events which caused a

transformation of the U.S. during

the late 19th/early 20th centuries

– Imperialism

3Rutherford B. Hayes

19th President

Republican

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I. Rutherford B. Hayes -1877-1881

• Compromise 1877

• Ended Reconstruction- withdrew

federal troops from South.

• Bland-Allison -increase currency

supply

• Anti-Chinese feelings -Chinese

Exclusion Act.

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James A.Garfield

20th President

Republican

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II. Assassination of J. Garfield-1881

• By Charles Guiteau

• Didn’t get a job - the “Spoils

System.”

• Shoots Garfield.

• Hanged

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Charles

Guiteau

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James A. Garfield's Assassination.

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What happens to Guiteau?

• His last words, “I have saved my

party and my land and they’ve

murdered me for it. Now I’m going

to the Lordy…..”

• Acted alone. No conspiracy.

10Chester A. Arthur

21st President

Republican

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III. Chester A. Arthur -1881-1885

• Former “machine politician”

fought corruption in

government.

• First steel warships built-

basis of modern navy.

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• Pendleton Act set up system

for filling government jobs on

basis of a competitive

examination (Civil Service

Exams).

Cont Chester A. Arthur -1881-1885

13Grover Cleveland

22nd & 24th

President

Democrat

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IV. Grover Cleveland -1885-1889

• 1st Democratic President after

the Civil War.

• Honesty, courage, & concern

for public welfare.

• Campaign -“smear” tactics.

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Cont Grover Cleveland -1885-1889

• Labor unrest

• Haymarket Sq. Affair 1886.

1. Violence blamed on

anarchists.

2. Turned public opinion

against unions.

17Benjamin Harrison

23rd President

Republican

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V. Benjamin Harrison -1889-1893

• Sherman Anti-Trust Act-

regulate BIG corporations.

–Monopolies made illegal.

–Labor unrest & strikes.

–Not enforced

19Grover Cleveland

22nd & 24th

President

Democrat

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VI. Grover Cleveland -1893-1897

• Only president to serve 2 non-

consecutive terms.

• Blamed for depression.

21William McKinley

25th President Republican

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VII. William McKinley -1897-1901

• Policy of expansion.

• Imperialism.

• Changed foreign policy.

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Cont William McKinley -1897-1901

• Prosperity returned.

• Anti-trust laws not enforced

• Businessmen dominated

government.

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Cont William McKinley -1897-1901

• Hawaii was annexed (added).

• U.S. fought the Spanish-

American War.

– Gained Guam, Puerto Rico & the

Philippines.

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Cont William McKinley -1897-1901

• Assassinated 1901 in reception

line.

• By anarchist- Leon Czolgosz.

• Replaced by Theodore

Roosevelt.

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26Leon Czolgosz

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Assassination of William McKinley.

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The Trial Of Leon Czolgosz

• Pleads insanity (he was).

• Found guilty.

• Leon, “I killed the President because he

was the enemy of the good people and

I’m not sorry for it.”

• Electrocuted.