Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Mar 4 11 tweets 4 min read Read on X
In 1890, the Tariff Act came into place in the United States. It placed tariffs on imports of up to 50%.
While touted as a way to build American industry, there was also the hope it would force an annexation of Canada. It backfired.
Let's learn more.

🧵1/10 The image is a black-and-white political cartoon depicting a man in a suit standing behind a counter labeled "Republican Platform." He is holding a bottle labeled "Untaxed Whiskey, 20¢ Gal." in one hand and a piece of cloth labeled "War-Taxed Common Cloth, Tariff 84%" in the other. Above the counter, a sign reads, "If you don’t see what you want, ask for it." The cartoon, signed by W.A. Rogers, appears to satirize the Republican Party's economic policies, highlighting the disparity in taxation between luxury items like whiskey and essential goods like...
Put forward by William McKinley, who was a Congressman at that point, the Tariff Act put duties across imports ranging from 38% to 49.5%.
McKinley was called the Napoleon of Protection. While some items had tariffs eliminated, most had tariffs increased.

🧵2/10 The photo is a black-and-white portrait of a man wearing a formal dark suit, white shirt, and bow tie. His hair is neatly combed and parted to the side. He has a serious expression and is seated, with one hand resting on his lap. The background is plain and dark, keeping the focus on his attire and expression, suggesting a historical or official photograph, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century.
One reason for the tariffs was to force the annexation of Canada. The McKinley Tariff declined to make an exception for Canadian products.
It was hoped this would make Canada more reliant on the US market, and push Canadians to become the 45th state.

🧵3/10 The image is a black-and-white scan of a newspaper article or editorial excerpt. The headline reads, "A TRIUMPH FOR CANADIAN BARLEY." The text discusses the McKinley tariff bill, describing it as an example of "protectionism run mad," and notes that it has failed to achieve its goal of affecting Canadian farmers. Specifically, it mentions that the bill increases the import tax on barley from 10¢ to 30¢ per bushel, but this has not reduced the importation of eight to twelve million bushels of barley yearly from Ontario, benefiting the western farmer. The text is formatted...
Secretary of State James G. Blaine believed that annexation would eliminate competition with Canada over fishing and timber rights. Blane co-authored the Tariff Act.
He stated of annexation: "a grander and nobler brotherly love, that may unite in the end”

🧵4/10 describe photo  The photo is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with a full, gray beard and gray hair, wearing a formal dark suit, white shirt, and bow tie. He has a serious expression and is seated against a plain, dark background. The image has a classic, historical feel, likely from the 19th century, suggesting it is a formal photograph of a notable figure, such as a politician or public figure.
British politician Lyon Playfair saw the Tariff Act for what it was. He called it a covert attack on Canada,
Both Britain and the United States believed the Tariff Act would drive Canada to join the United States.
In reality, it had the complete opposite result.

🧵5/10 The image is a black-and-white scan of a newspaper article excerpt from The Globe, dated November 15. The text reports on a speech by Sir Lyon Playfair, as cabled by the newspaper's London correspondent. The article highlights Playfair's address at Leeds, emphasizing his warning about the dangers of protectionism in the United States and his recommendation for Canada to adopt free trade principles. It mentions that Europe and Asia will contribute to Canada's future greatness and prosperity, potentially making it one of the greatest and most prosperous countries in the world through commerci...
The Tariff Act instead pushed Canada to align itself more with Britain. People began to rally behind their "love for Queen, flag, and country".
Sir John A. Macdonald used the tariffs as a rallying cry in the 1891 election and was able to win another majority government.

🧵6/10 The photo is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with gray, curly hair and a serious expression. He is wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a polka-dotted tie with a pin or medallion on it. The background is plain and dark, emphasizing the formal attire and the subject's composed demeanor. The image has a historical feel, likely from the 19th century, suggesting it is a formal photograph of a notable figure, such as a politician or public figure.
Within two years of the Tariff Act being passed, agricultural exports to Britain from Canada went from $3.5 million to $15 million.
Produce and animal exports to Britain grew from $16 million to $24 million during that same period.

🧵7/10 The image is a black-and-white scan of a newspaper article excerpt with the headline "Our Egg Trade With Britain." The text discusses a commercial bulletin (No. 4) related to eggs, poultry, canned goods, dressed and evaporated fruits. It highlights that exports of eggs from Canada to Britain are rapidly increasing and notes an almost unlimited market for Canadian eggs. The text is formatted in a dense, traditional newspaper column style, typical of the late 19th or early 20th century.
Minister of Trade and Commerce Mackenzie Bowell said:
“The McKinley Bill, instead of destroying the trade of this country, has only diverted it from the United States to England."
American consumers dealt with a sharp increase in prices.

🧵8/10 The photo is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with white hair and a full white beard, wearing a formal dark suit, white shirt, and bow tie. He has a serious expression and stands against a plain, dark background. The image has a historical feel, likely from the 19th century, suggesting it is a formal photograph of a notable figure, such as a politician or public figure.
The Republicans lost the 1890 Congressional elections, losing 93 seats while the Democrats gained 86.
In 1892, the Democrats gained control of the Senate, House and Presidency.
They then replaced the Tariff Act with a new act that lowered tariffs.

🧵9/10 The image is a black-and-white scan of a newspaper headline and article excerpt. The large, bold headline reads, "Cleveland Elected." Below it, subheadings state, "McKinleyism Is Ended Forever," "Tariff is a Tax," and "WE ARE THE PEOPLE!" The article mentions a "Perfect Landslide For The Democracy. The Democratic Cyclone of 1880 Repeated." The text is formatted in a dense, traditional newspaper style, typical of the late 19th century, likely celebrating the election victory of Grover Cleveland and the Democratic Party in 1892, opposing the p...
I hope you enjoyed that look at the McKinley Tariffs and the impact on Canada.

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