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Benjamin Harrison
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Benjamin Harrison was born at the home of his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, in North Bend, Ohio. Harrison grew up on a farm called The Point, given to his father by his grandfather when the elder man was elected President. Harrison was tutored both at home and in a one-room schoolhouse nearby. Between 1847 and 1850, Harrison attended Farmers' College, a preparatory school in Cincinnati. In 1850, he was admitted as a junior to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1852. From 1852-1854 he studied law.
From 1854 until the Civil War, he practiced law in Indianapolis. In 1857, Harrison was elected Attorney of the City of Indianapolis. He joined the Republican party and was a strong supporter of Lincoln. In 1862, he joined the Union Army as a Second Lieutenant. During the war, he rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
From the end of the war until 1881, Harrison maintained his law practice, while continuing to be active in the Republican party. He ran unsuccessfully for governor. In 1881, Harrison was elected by the Indiana legislature to serve in the Senate. He served for six years. During this time he was a strong supporter of pensions for Civil War veterans. He was a strong supporter of tariffs. Harrison was untainted by any scandals, and this sufficed to make him a good candidate for the Republicans.
Harrison's term as President was remarkably unexceptional, and in many ways reflected the unassuming and calm manner of the personality of the President. He was faced with numerous requests for political appointments by Republicans who had been out of power for four years. While Harrison resisted, he could not turn down all the requests. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to extend the Civil Service. During his term the Congress passed the Sherman Anti- Trust Act that was the first law passed to attempt to curb the abuses of monopolies.
Harrison supported the McKinely tariff Act of 1890. This act was extremely protectionist. It set the average tariff at 48 percent. Because of the tariffs the government was building a large surplus. Harrison did his best to spend that surplus on infrastructure projects and an expanded Navy. The Federal governments budget for the first time in peacetime passed 1 billion dollars. During Harrison's term the last major battle with the Indian took place- at Wounded Knee.
Harrison was active in foreign affairs. He helped convene the first Pan American Congress that resulted in the establishment of the Pan American League. |
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