U.S. Capitol Historical Society

1774-1799 | 1800-1824 | 1825-1849 | 1850-1874 | 1875-1899 | 1900-1924 | 1925-1949 | 1950-1974 | 1975-Modern

1875			Schuyler Colfax, Grant's Vice President, became involved in the Credit Mobilier scandal concerning involving fraudulent contracts to build the Union Pacific Railroad. To avert a congressional inquiry, stock was given to key members of Congress and Grant's administration, including Colfax.
1875	November	22	Vice President Wilson died of a stroke in his office in the Capitol.
1876	December	6	2 Sets of electoral returns were reported for the election of 1876 between Rutherford B. Hayes, Republican, and Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat, in the states of Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon. Tilden, with 184 undisputed electoral votes, one short of a majority, would need to receive at least one of the disputed votes to be elected.
1877	January	29	An electoral commission was established to determine which of the disputed electoral results to use. It was to consist of 7 Democrats, 7 Republicans, and 1 Independent, but when the independent was unable to fulfill his duties, his place was taken by a Republican, and the commission voted on strict partisan lines to award the disputed electors to Hayes. Hayes gained southern support for his election by promising to withdraw federal troops from the south.
	March	4	Rutherford B. Hayes, Republican, was inaugurated the 19^th President. His Vice President was William Wheeler. In his inaugural speech, Hayes stated ". . . he serves his party best who serves the country best."
	June		Hayes pushed legislation through Congress forbidding civil servants to participate in politics.
1878	February	28	Congress passed the Bland-Allison Act, which required the Secretary of the Treasury to make monthly purchases of between $2 and $4 million worth of silver at the market price, over President Hayes' veto.
1881	March	4	James A. Garfield, Republican, was inaugurated as the 20^th President defeating Winfield S. Hancock, Democrat. Garfield's Vice President was Chester Arthur.
1881	September	19	President Garfield died, more than two months after being shot at a railroad station by disgruntled office-seeker Charles J. Guiteau, never pushing any key legislation through Congress. Chester Arthur became the 21st President.
1882	May	6	Congress enacted its first immigration restriction. It excluded Chinese, convicts, and paupers. It also placed a $0.50 tax per person on each immigrant.
1883	January	16	Pendleton Act passed creating the civil service list of jobs. The Civil Service Commission would interview and hire applicants once they had completed the civil service examination. In addition, it established a merit system for appointment to federal employment.
1885	March	4	Grover Cleveland, Democrat, was inaugurated as the 22nd President defeating James G. Blaine, Republican. His Vice President was Thomas A. Hendricks.
1887	February	4	Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act to regulate the railroad industry. The Interstate Commerce Commission was established to oversee the act.
		8	Dawes Severalty Act forced Indians to become landowners and farmers. In addition, Indians were forced to abandon their collective society and culture.
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1889	March	4	Benjamin Harrison, Republican, was inaugurated the 23rd President after defeating President Cleveland, Democrat. His Vice President was Levi P. Morton, Republican.
1889	March	4
1890			Census Bureau declared the frontier no longer existed; "unsettled area has been so broken . . . That there can hardly be said to be a frontier line."
			Senator Orville Platt of Connecticut spoke out against United States isolationism. "A policy of isolation did well enough when we were an embryo nation. But today things are different. . . . We are 65 million people, the most advanced and powerful on earth, and regard to our future welfare demands an abandonment of the doctrines of isolation."
	July	2	Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act with little debate, outlawing combinations in restraint of trade, the first attempt to restrain the growing power of trusts like Standard Oil.
	July	14	Congress passed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, requiring the Treasury to purchase 4,500,000 ounces of silver each month at market prices.
	October	1	Congress passed the McKinley Tariff Act, raising tariffs to an average rate of 49.5%. It was so unpopular that it led to a Democratic landslide in the Congressional elections of 1890.
1893	March	4	Grover Cleveland was inaugurated for a second, non-consecutive term as President, having defeated President Harrison and becoming both the 22nd and 24^th President to serve. His Vice President was Adlai E. Stevenson, Democrat.
	June	27	The Panic of 1893 occurred as the New York Stock Exchange crashed in response to a drain in U.S. gold reserves.
	November	1	In response to the Panic of 1893, Congress, at President Cleveland's request, repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. The move spelled political doom for Cleveland, as the Democratic party split over the issue.
1894	May	1	Unemployment rate reached an all-time high of 18%. Jacob S. Coxey, Ohio labor reformer, led a march on Washington. Coxey was arrested for trespassing on the Capitol lawn after the police dispersed the march.
1894	August	28	The Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act lowered duties and put wool, copper, and lumber on the free list.
1896	July	8	The Democratic National Convention in Chicago nominated William Jennings Bryan, a supporter of free silver, for the presidency: "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."
1897	March	4	William McKinley, Republican, was inaugurated as the 25th President after defeating Bryan. McKinley's Vice President was Garret Hobart.
1897	July	7	Congress passed the Dingley Tariff, once again raising tariff rates to a new high, with an average rate of 57%.
1898	April	19	Congress declared war on Spain for its inhumane treatment of Cuba. The Teller Amendment disclaimed any intention on the part of the U.S. to annex Cuba.
1898	December	10	The Treaty of Paris, ending the Spanish-American War, was signed. By it, Cuba became independent, Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded to the United States, and the Philippines were purchased for $20 million.
1899	February	4	Emilio Aguinaldo led a Filipino revolt against the United States.
1899	February	6	The Senate ratified the Treaty of Paris by a vote of 57-27, only a two vote margin.