Benjamin Harrison Administration - The Harrison Administration Legacy
The Harrison Administration Legacy
Few of Harrison's domestic initiatives had any long-lasting effect. The McKinley Tariff ultimately proved to stifle business growth and anger workers, just the opposite of what the president and the Republicans wanted to do in 1890. The Silver Purchase Act, which was in effect for only two years, likewise was of secondary importance. Harrison failed outright in his attempt to implement federal protection of African American voting rights, at least in part because he was unable to marshal support within his own party. The only major domestic success for Harrison proved to be his generous pension legislation. Even this act, while satisfying public demands, proved a serious drain on government funds in the years after following its passage.
While Harrison's impact on the domestic front was ultimately minor, in foreign affairs he had many significant achievements. The expansion and modernization...
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