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| 1893–98 |
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| On July 7, 1898, Hawaii was annexed by joint resolution of the two houses of Congress. U.S. activities in Hawaii during this period symbolized the growing emergence of the nation as a colonial power. | 1 |
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| 1893, March 4–1897, March 4 |
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| GROVER CLEVELAND, president for the second time. | 2 |
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| 1893 |
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| Depression. Nearly 16,000 businesses failed, farm prices plunged downward, and unemployment rose to nearly 3 million workers over the next two years. Cleveland believed there was just one cause of the depression: the worldwide fear of American inability to maintain a gold standard was draining off the supply of gold. For this fear he blamed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. He therefore asked the special session of Congress to repeal the act. | 3 |
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| Oct. 30 |
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| The Sherman Silver Purchase Act was repealed, after bitter debate. | 4 |
| The Anti-Saloon League founded, a milestone in the development of the prohibition movement. It inaugurated a nationwide campaign in 1895. | 5 |
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