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This illustration from Harper's Weekly magazine shows "General Coxey" approaching the Capitol. Harper's Weekly was well known for its illustrations; photographs were still uncommon in print in the 1890s. Newseum Collection Should the government limit protesters' access to the U.S. Capitol, where their elected representatives conduct business?In 1894, the United States is facing a serious economic depression with 18 percent unemployment and businesses failing. President Grover Cleveland remains firm in his belief that the government should not fund social or economic aid programs. Jacob Coxey, a wealthy Ohio businessman, disagrees and wants the government to fund projects such as road building to hire the unemployed. He announces a plan for his followers, whom he calls the "Industrial Army," to march to Washington to deliver their proposals directly to Congress. About 500 men eventually arrive in the District of Columbia – far fewer than the 100,000 Coxey had predicted. The group, which becomes known as Coxey’s Army, marches to the U.S. Capitol, where Coxey attempts to deliver a speech from the steps. Before he can finish, police remove him and his followers. Police cite an 1882 law that bans giving speeches or carrying signs on the Capitol grounds in order to preserve the “quiet and dignity of the Capitol of the United States.” Coxey is arrested, and the nation debates the tactics of Coxey’s Army. Some congressmen and newspaper editorials express gratitude that the peace and order at the Capitol has been preserved. Others rush to defend Coxey’s actions as a valid form of petitioning the government. Take the role of a historical figure below and find evidence to argue your case.
What was one goal of Coxey's Army?Coxey's army, 1914
Upon arriving in Washington, Coxey and his supporters demanded that the federal government immediately assist workers by hiring them to work on public projects such as roads and government buildings. The United States Congress and President Grover Cleveland refused.
What did Coxey's Army want quizlet?Coxey's Army was formed by an Ohio quarry owner, Jacob Coxey. Members of Coxey's Army marched to Washington to demand that Congress provide relief to the unemployed. Members of Coxey's Army wanted the federal government to use public works projects as a way to provide relief to the unemployed.
What and when was Coxey's Army?Coxey's Army, a group of the unemployed who marched to Washington, D.C., in the depression year of 1894. It was the only one of several groups that had set out for the U.S. capital to actually reach its destination.
How did the federal government respond to the arrival of Coxey's Army in Washington DC?How did the federal government respond to the arrival of Coxey's army in Washington, D.C.? The federal government called out the police to arrest Coxey and his lieutenants and beat demonstrators.
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