The Presidency of Cleveland (1885 - 1889, 1893 - 1897)

Question 1

What was the 1884 election campaign?

Answer 1

• The Republican candidate, James G Blaine, was charged with corruption involving railroad interest as well as being accused of anti-catholic bias
• Republicans against corruption (‘Mugwumps’) abandoned Blaine and became known as ‘goo-goos’
• supported Cleveland instead
• Cleveland with a narrow margin of 37 electoral votes out of 401

Question 2

How did Cleveland impact Civil reform?

Answer 2

• Cleveland announced her would not fire any R doing job well and would not appoint solely on basis of party service
• Reduced the number of federal employees
• Over time, began to replace Republican office holders with Democrats but more chosen by merit alone than in previous administrations

Question 3

What did Cleveland veto whilst in power?

Answer 3

• Believed Congress should have less power
• Democratic President facing a Republican senate, used lots of vetoes
• Vetoed hundreds of private pension bills for American Civil War veterans
• Vetoed bill granting pensions for disabilities not caused by military service
• Vetoed Texas Seed Bill in 1887
• after drought had ruined crops in several Texas countries congress allocated $10,000 to buy seed grain - he vetoed

Question 4

What were Cleveland’s strengths?

Answer 4

• Began to enact Civil Service reform
• Beat corrupt Republican candidate Blaine

Question 5

What were Cleveland’s Weaknesses ?

Answer 5

• Abused power of veto
• Did not cooperate with congress

Question 6

last president (appears twice)
Full name

Period running

Answer 6

Grover Cleveland
1885 - 1889
1893 - 1897