51st United States Congress

51st United States Congress
Public domain · source
Congress	51st
Session year	1889
Session start	March 4, 1889
Session end	March 4, 1891
House seats	330
Senate seats	88
House majORITY	Republican
Senate majORITY	Republican

51st United States Congress. The 51st United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1889, to March 4, 1891, during the presidency of Benjamin Harrison. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the United States Census of 1880, which led to the inclusion of representatives from states such as California, Florida, and Texas.

● Composition

The 51st Congress was composed of Republican Party and Democratic Party members, with the Republicans holding a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate had 88 members, with 51 Republican Party members, 37 Democratic Party members, and 1 Labor Party member from Colorado. The House of Representatives had 330 members, with 179 Republican Party members, 152 Democratic Party members, and 1 Labor Party member from Wisconsin. Notable members included Henry Cabot Lodge from Massachusetts, Nelson Aldrich from Rhode Island, and William Jennings Bryan from Nebraska.

● Major Events

During the 51st Congress, several major events took place, including the Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania, which led to the establishment of the American Red Cross by Clara Barton. The Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota also occurred during this time, resulting in the deaths of over 150 Lakota people. Additionally, the Oklahoma Land Runs took place, which led to the settlement of the Oklahoma Territory by homesteaders from states such as Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. The World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, was also planned during this time, with the involvement of notable figures such as Daniel Burnham and Frederick Law Olmsted.

● Major Legislation

The 51st Congress passed several significant pieces of legislation, including the Dependent Pension Act, which provided pensions to Civil War veterans and their dependents. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was also passed, which prohibited trusts and monopolies in interstate commerce. The McKinley Tariff was enacted, which raised tariffs on imported goods and led to a trade war with countries such as Canada and Germany. The General Land Office was also established, which oversaw the management of public lands in states such as Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

● Party Summary

The party summary of the 51st Congress showed a majority of Republican Party members in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Democratic Party was the minority party, with significant representation from states such as New York, Illinois, and Ohio. The Labor Party had a small presence, with one member in the Senate from Colorado and one member in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. Other parties, such as the Greenback Party and the Prohibition Party, also had some representation.

● Leadership

The leadership of the 51st Congress included John W. Daniel as the President pro tempore of the Senate, and Thomas B. Reed as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Other notable leaders included William B. Allison from Iowa, John Sherman from Ohio, and Justin Smith Morrill from Vermont. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations was chaired by Shelby Moore Cullom from Illinois, while the House Committee on Ways and Means was chaired by William McKinley from Ohio.

● Membership

The membership of the 51st Congress included several notable figures, such as Henry M. Teller from Colorado, George Frisbie Hoar from Massachusetts, and Eugene Hale from Maine. Other members included William D. Bynum from Indiana, John M. Allen from Mississippi, and Charles N. Felton from California. The Senate Committee on Appropriations included members such as William P. Frye from Maine and Francis E. Warren from Wyoming, while the House Committee on Appropriations included members such as Joseph G. Cannon from Illinois and James A. Walker from Virginia.