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Munn v. Illinois Decision
In the Supreme Court case Munn v. Illinois, it is decided that states have constitutional permission to regulate private businesses related to public interest. -
Rutherford B. Hayes Inaugurated
Rutherford B. Hayes is inaugurated as the nineteenth President of the United States. -
Thomas Edison Invents Electric Light Bulb
Thomas Edison invents the first practical incandescent electric light bulb. -
James A. Garfield Inaugurated
James A. Garfield is inaugurated as the twentieth President of the United States. -
James A. Garfield Assassinated
President James A. Garfield is shot by Charles J Guiteau. He dies on September 19. -
Chester A. Arthur Inaugurated
A day after President James A. Garfield dies, Vice President Chester A. Arthur is inaugurated as the twenty-first President of the United States. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act is passed, limiting the entry of Chinese Immigrants into the United States. -
Immigration Act of 1882
The Immigration Act of 1882, which limits immigration of peoples deemed dangerous or unable to care for themselves, is passed. -
Grover Cleveland Inaugurated
Grover Cleveland is inaugurated as the twenty-second President of the United States. -
Haymarket Square Riot
Workers strike for an eight-hour work day in Haymarket Square in Chicago, Illinois. The strike quickly becomes violent, eventually involving police intervention and bombs and causing deaths and injuries on both sides. -
Dawes Allotment Act
The Dawes Allotment Act, which separates Native American territory into allotments to be placed into ownership of individual Native Americans, is passed. -
Benjamin Harrison Inaugurated
Benjamin Harrison is inaugurated as the twenty-third President of the United States. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which outlaws trusts and monopolies, is passed. -
Andrew Carnegie founds Carnegie Steel
Andrew Carnegie founds his million-dollar steel company Carnegie Steel, later purchased by banker J.P. Morgan and renamed United States Steel. -
Grover Cleveland Inaugurated for Second Time
Grover Cleveland is inaugurated as the twenty-fourth President of the United States. He is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. -
Pullman Strike Begins
The Pullman Strike, a national railroad workers' strike, begins. President Cleveland eventually sends troops to end the strike, and a major strike-leader, Eugene V. Debs, is arrested. -
Plessy v. Ferguson Decision
The Supreme Court Case Plessy v. Ferguson decides that segregated facilities are constitutional under the condition that the separate facilities in question provide the same quality and service, or are "separate but equal." -
William McKinley Inaugurated
William McKinley is inaugurated as the twenty-fifth President of the United States. -
Explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor
The U.S. Battleship Maine explodes suddenly in Cuba's Havana Harbor. Though the cause of the explosion is unknown, the nation blames Spain for the disaster. -
Spanish-American War Begins
As a response to the United States' attempts to force Spain to free Cuba from its colonial reign, Spain declares war on the U.S. America does the same, and the war begins. -
Battle of Manila Bay
The United States is victorious in its fight against Spain at Manila Bay in the Spanish colony of the Philippines. It is the first major battle of the Spanish-American War. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
Future president Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders are victorious in the decisive Battle of San Juan Hill, Cuba. -
Spanish-American War Ends
The brief Spanish-American war ends only months after it begins, with an American victory. -
1898 Treaty of Paris
In the 1898 Treaty of Paris, the United States receives the Spanish colonies of Guam and Puerto Rico and purchases the Philippines. Attempts to colonize these territories leads to much opposition both at home and abroad.