Benjamin Harrison: Difference between revisions

Due in large part to surplus revenues from the tariffs, federal spending reached one billion dollars for the first time during his term. The spending issue in part led to the defeat of the Republicans in the [[1890 United States House election|1890 midterm elections]]. Cleveland defeated Harrison for reelection in [[1892 United States presidential election|1892]], due to the growing unpopularity of high tariffs and high federal spending. He returned to private life and his law practice in Indianapolis. In 1899 he represented the [[RepublicUnited States of Venezuela]] in its [[British Guiana]] boundary dispute with the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]. Harrison traveled to the court of [[Paris]] as part of the case and after a brief stay returned to Indianapolis. He died at his home in Indianapolis in 1901 of complications from [[influenza]]. Many have praised Harrison's commitment to African Americans' voting rights, but scholars and historians generally regard his administration as below average due to its corruption, as well as focused criticism on his signing of the McKinley Tariff. They [[Historical rankings of presidents of the United States|rank him in the bottom half]] among U.S. presidents, though they do not question his commitment to personal and official integrity.