The Era of Expansion and Reform
In the years following the Civil War, the United States underwent a period of rapid expansion and reform. With the acquisition of new territories, the nation expanded both geographically and demographically, prompting debates about the direction of the country. Urbanization and industrialization also began to transform the American landscape, leading to a host of social and economic issues that required government action.
The Presidents of Time Period 5
Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
James A. Garfield (1881)
Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 and 1893-1897)
Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
William McKinley (1897-1901)
Andrew Johnson: Reconstruction and Impeachment
Reconstruction and the 14th Amendment:
Upon assuming office following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson embarked on a plan of Reconstruction that emphasized the restoration of the Southern states to the Union. His plan, however, was met with opposition from the Radical Republicans in Congress, who favored a more stringent approach that included civil rights for former slaves.
In 1867, Johnson clashed with the Radical Republicans over the passage of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship rights to all persons born in the United States, including former slaves. Johnson vetoed the amendment, but Congress overrode his veto.
Impeachment and Acquittal:
Johnson’s conflict with the Radical Republicans reached its peak in 1868 when the House of Representatives impeached him for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” The charges against Johnson stemmed from his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which prohibited the president from removing certain government officials without the consent of the Senate.
The Senate held a trial, and Johnson was ultimately acquitted by a single vote. However, the impeachment process further eroded his authority and left a lasting impact on the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.
Ulysses S. Grant: Reconstruction and Corruption
Reconstruction in the South:
Ulysses S. Grant continued the Reconstruction efforts begun by Johnson. During his presidency, he implemented policies aimed at protecting the civil rights of former slaves. This included the use of military force to suppress violence against African Americans and the creation of the Department of Justice to enforce civil rights laws.
Corruption and the Gilded Age:
Grant’s presidency was marred by widespread corruption and scandals. The Reconstruction era was a time of economic expansion and political instability, and many government officials were implicated in various forms of wrongdoing.
The Credit Mobilier Scandal:
One of the most notorious scandals of the Grant administration was the Credit Mobilier scandal. The Union Pacific Railroad Company had created a construction company called Credit Mobilier, which was used to inflate the costs of building the railroad. Many members of Congress, including Vice President Schuyler Colfax, were implicated in taking bribes from Credit Mobilier.
The Whiskey Ring:
Another scandal involved a group of distillers who conspired with revenue agents to evade taxes on whiskey. The Whiskey Ring was uncovered by Grant’s Secretary of the Treasury, Benjamin Bristow, and led to the indictment of more than 100 people, including several prominent Republicans.
Rutherford B. Hayes: The End of Reconstruction and the Compromise of 1877
The End of Reconstruction:
Rutherford B. Hayes’s presidency marked the end of the Reconstruction era. In 1877, he withdrew federal troops from the South, effectively ending the government’s efforts to enforce civil rights for African Americans.
The Compromise of 1877:
Hayes’s withdrawal of troops was part of a larger political compromise known as the Compromise of 1877. The compromise brokered a deal between Northern and Southern Democrats that allowed Hayes to win the disputed presidential election of 1876.
In exchange for Hayes’s withdrawal of troops, the Southern Democrats agreed to accept his election and to support his policies of economic expansion and reconciliation with the South. The Compromise of 1877 had a profound impact on American history, as it effectively ended Reconstruction and ushered in a new era of Southern autonomy.
James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur: Assassination and Reform
Garfield’s Assassination:
James A. Garfield was assassinated by a disgruntled office-seeker six months after taking office. His death shocked the nation and led to a period of mourning and political turmoil.
Arthur’s Reform Efforts:
Garfield’s successor, Chester A. Arthur, initially supported patronage and political machines, but he later became a strong advocate for civil service reform. He signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act in 1883, which established a merit-based civil service system and reduced the influence of patronage in government appointments.
Grover Cleveland: Tariffs and the Economy
Tariff Debates:
Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, served two terms as president, from 1885-1889 and again from 1893-1897. He is most closely associated with his opposition to high tariffs, which he believed burdened consumers and stifled economic growth.
In 1887, Cleveland vetoed the Mills Tariff Bill, which would have reduced tariffs. Congress overrode his veto, but Cleveland continued to advocate for lower tariffs.
The Panic of 1893:
During Cleveland’s second term, the United States experienced a severe economic downturn known as the Panic of 1893. The panic was caused by a combination of factors, including overspeculation in the stock market and a decline in the price of silver.
Cleveland responded to the panic by raising tariffs with the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894. However, the tariff increase failed to alleviate the economic crisis, and Cleveland’s popularity declined.
Benjamin Harrison: Tariffs and Foreign Policy
Tariffs and Reciprocity:
Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, served as president from 1889-1893. He supported high tariffs and signed the McKinley Tariff of 1890, which raised tariffs to some of the highest levels in American history.
Harrison also negotiated a series of reciprocity agreements with other countries, reducing tariffs on certain goods in exchange for similar reductions on American goods.
Foreign Policy:
Harrison expanded American influence in the Pacific by annexing Hawaii and negotiating a treaty with Samoa. He also supported the Pan-American Conference of 1889, which sought to promote cooperation among the nations of the Western Hemisphere.
William McKinley: Expansion and Imperialism
The Spanish-American War:
William McKinley’s presidency marked a watershed moment in American history. In 1898, the United States entered into the Spanish-American War, which resulted in the acquisition of new territories and the emergence of the United States as a global power.
The war was sparked by the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor and the subsequent Spanish crackdown on Cuban rebels. McKinley initially resisted calls for war, but he eventually succumbed to public pressure and sent American troops to Cuba.
The Treaty of Paris:
The Spanish-American War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1898. The treaty granted the United States control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
The acquisition of these territories led to debates about the future of American imperialism. Some Americans believed that the United States had a duty to spread democracy and civilization to other parts of the world. Others argued that imperialism was a violation of American principles and would lead to conflict and exploitation.
The Open Door Policy:
McKinley also pursued a policy of economic expansion in China. In 1899, he announced the Open Door Policy, which called for equal trading rights for all nations in China. The policy was designed to prevent any one country from gaining exclusive control over China’s vast markets.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Time Period 5
The presidents of Time Period 5 played a pivotal role in shaping the course of American history. They presided over a period of rapid expansion, both geographically and economically, which presented the nation with a host of new challenges and opportunities.
Their legacies are complex and multifaceted, but they all left their mark on the American political landscape. From the Reconstruction era to the Spanish-American War, the presidents of Time Period 5 helped to define the nation’s identity and set the stage for the 20th century.
