-
Successful test of Phonograph
Tested in Menlo Park, New Jersey, by Thomas Edison -
Telephone Patented
Created by Alexander Graham Bell -
1876 Presidential Election
Republican candidate: Rutherford Hayes (185 electoral votes)
Democratic candidate: Samuel Tilden (184 electoral votes)
Greenback candidate: Peter Cooper Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1876 -
The Great Railroad Strike
Strikes began first in Baltimore, Maryland, and then in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the next day. Strikes were prompted by wage cuts and changes in procedure. -
Bland-Allison Act
Vetoed by President Hayes, but overridden. Purposed coinage of silver coins.
Source:https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/february-8-1878-veto-bland-allison-act -
Electric street lamps installed in Philadelphia, Pa.
-
Founding of The Farmers’ Alliance
Started from the Granger Movement and later renamed the People's or Populist Party. Several offshoots of this organization were created for other groups, such as African Americans or Texans. Proposed many changes in society, including income taxes and democratic election of senators. Date of actual conception is undetermined, as this was original part of other groups.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Farmers-Alliance#ref1255237 -
1880 Presidential Election
Republican candidate: James Garfield (214 electoral votes)
Democratic candidate: Winfield Hancock (155 electoral votes)
Source: https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/elections/election1880.html -
Attempted Assassination of James Garfield
President Garfield shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station (now National Gallery of Art) during first year in office. Assassin was Charles Guiteau.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/garfield-assassination-altered-american-history-woefully-forgotten-today-180968319/ -
Death of U.S. President James Garfield
President Garfield died due to complication of gunshot wounds inflicted on July 2, 1881. Assassin Charles Guiteau hung later in 1882. Vice President Chester Arthur assumed the office of President after Garfield's death.
Source:https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-A-Garfield -
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Passed by Congress to harbor the designation of non politically-discriminant government offices. George Pendleton was a proponent of the bill, but it did not apply to all federal offices when first enacted.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pendleton-Civil-Service-Act -
1884 Presidential Election
Democratic candidate: Grover Cleveland (219 electoral votes)
Republican candidate: James Blaine (182 electoral votes)
Prohibition candidate: John Saint John
Greenback candidate: Benjamin Butler
Incumbent Chester Arthur was not on the ballot.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1884 -
First "Skyscraper"
-
Hay Market Square Riot
Started in protest of police actions at the McCormick Reaper Works Strike. Eight people were killed in the ensuing riot due to police and revolting protesters. This led to the downfall of The Knight of Labor due to association with radical and anarchist groups, but prompted the advance of The American Federation of Labor (AFL). -
Marriage of Grover Cleveland and Francis Folsom
Francis and Grover "...were married in the Blue Room of the White House on June 2, 1886, the first time an incumbent president wed in the mansion."("Frances Cleveland", 2019)
Source: Frances Cleveland. (2019). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frances-Cleveland -
Interstate Commerce Act
Helped to prevent railroads from charging unfair rates depending on location of business.
Source: https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=49 -
Dawes General Allotment Act
This divided Native American Reservations into 160 acre sections which would be given to each Native American household. Various exceptions for individuals and orphans were included in the act. Section of land could not be sold to others, and this would ensure a maximum of 160 acres per family. -
1888 Presidential Election
Republican candidate: Benjamin Harrison (233 electoral votes)
Democratic candidate: Grover Cleveland (168 electoral votes)
Various opinions on tariffs were focused on during the election.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1888 -
Annexation of The Dakotas, Montana, and Washington?
The Dakotas became states on Nov. 2, Montana on Nov. 8, and Washington on Nov. 11. These were parts of various territories, including the Louisiana Purchase. -
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
The federal government's purchase rates of silver were increased by this act, and a bimetallic standard currency was being put into place. Oddly, very little information is easily available for this act, including the date it was passed. This was later repealed by Grover Cleveland during the Depression of 1893. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
"First legislation enacted by the United States Congress (1890) to curb concentrations of power that interfere with trade and reduce economic competition. It was named for U.S. Senator John Sherman of Ohio, who was an expert on the regulation of commerce." ("Sherman Antitrust Act", 2017)
Source: Sherman antitrust act. (2017). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Sherman-Antitrust-Act -
Dependent Pension Act
"An act granting pensions to soldiers and sailors who are incapacitated for the performance of manual labor, and providing for pensions to widows, minor children, and dependent parents." ([Dependent Pension Act], n.d.) Source:
[Dependent Pension Act]. Fifty-first Congress, Session I. [Government publication]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/51st-congress/session-1/c51s1ch634.pdf -
Annexation of Idaho and Wyoming
Idaho became the 43rd state on July, 3, followed by Wyoming on July 10, 1890. -
McKinley Tariff Act
This act increased "protective tariff rates [by] nearly 50 percent on average for many American products"(The McKinley Tariff, n.d.) As an interesting result, "Many...registered their displeasure at the polls...House Republicans lost 93 seats and Democrats swung comfortably into a commanding majority."(The McKinley Tariff, n.d.) Source: The McKinley Tariff of 1890.(n.d.)
Retrieved from https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-McKinley-Tariff-of-1890/ -
Battle of Wounded Knee
One of the last major Native American battles that occurred. Took place between American cavalrymen and the Lakota tribe, with their leader Spotted Elk. Upwards of 300 Native Americans died, compared to nearly 24 Americans. This was substantial, considering the original number of Native Americans was about 500.
Source: http://www.americanyawp.com/text/17-conquering-the-west/ -
Opening of Ellis Island
-
Homestead Steel Strike
Located in Homestead, Pa., Carnegie's Homestead Steel plant was temporally under direction of Henry Frick. Many workers were part of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers union. This started like many other strikes--caused by wage cuts--but turned violent when strike breakers and the Pinkerton National Detective Agency were sent to disband the workers. Members of PA National Guard were sent to end the strike. Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Homestead-Strike -
Populist Party National Convention
Held in Omaha, Nebraska, this was the first official meeting of the Populist Party. "Formed in 1891 primarily to represent agrarian interests and to advocate the free coinage of silver and government control of monopolies."(populist, 2019)
Source: populist. 2019. In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved Mar. 29, 2019, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populist -
1892 Presidental Election
Democratic candidate: Grover Cleveland (277 electoral votes)
Republican candidate: Benjamin Harrison (145 electoral votes)
Populist candidate: James Weaver (22 electoral votes)
Grover Cleveland--a former president himself--won the presidency against incumbent Benjamin Harrison. Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1892 -
Depression of 1893
Many governmental, economic, and in part, ecological causes. The United States did not fully recover until 1897. Also resulted in the bankruptcy of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Company was a producer of rail cars, requiring rail lines to use. Pullman reduced wages while keeping a consistent company housing price, which prompted workers' discontent. When requests for increased wages(and others) were not met, workers halted most traffic on lines which Pullman cars were used. Strike was disbanded by U.S. troops in July of 1894. Led to the Sherman Anti Trust and Interstate Commerce Acts.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Pullman-Strike -
1896 Presidential Election
Republican candidate: William McKinley (271 electoral votes)
Democratic candidate: William Bryan (176 electoral votes)
McKinley won the presidency. McKinley was in favor of a gold standard, but Bryan desired a bimetallic system as to not create an over-dependence on gold.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1896 -
Underground rail system opened in Boston