Grover Cleveland

Birth-Death: (1837 - 1908 ) Term: (1885-1889, 1893-1897 )

For the most part, President Cleveland tried to stand in the middle-ground when dealing with foreign issues. He was very circumspect about the state of things, and would try to resolve problems as well as possible.

Foreign Events of Grover Cleveland

    President Cleveland's foreign policy was impartial. His first controversy came in 1893 when, after the McKinley Tariff increased the duties on sugar by 2 cents per pound, the Hawaiian Queen decided to stop economic dependence on the United States, and to establish a dictatorship on the Islands. An American-sponsored Revolution occurred and in 1897 Hawaii "asked" to join the Union. Although Cleveland agreed to it at first, he insisted on a further investigation of the revolution. After seeing the involvement of the United States, he refused to annex Hawaii. It would be annexed by the joint resolution of Congress in 1898.

    In 1895 a Boundary dispute swept through Venezuela. These disputes had happened before, and twice before Cleveland had suggested arbitration - both sides Great Britain and Venezuela refused. This time Great Britain decided to use troops. In return, the United States threatened to apply the Monroe Doctrine. Since neither side wanted to get involved in a war, the dispute was arbitrated.