The Anti-Monopoly Party was an American political party formed on May the 14th 1884 at Chicago, demanding economical government, equitable laws, including an Interstate Commerce law, laws establishing labour bureaus and providing industrial arbitration, direct vote for senators, graduated income tax, payment of the national debt as it matures, and 'fostering-care' for agriculture, and denouncing the tariff and the granting of land to corporations. The Anti-Monopoly Party later joined with the Green-Back Labour party to form the 'People's Party'. Research Anti-Monopoly Party
The University of Chicago was first founded in 1857, but closed 1886 through financial troubles. In 1890 it was entirely reorganized, largely through the gifts of John D Rockefeller. Research Chicago University
The Greenback Labor Party was an American political party that developed from the Greenback party. It was formed in Ohio in 1875. In 1878 a union of the Labor Reform and the remnants of the old Greenback party was effected and was made national by the Convention of February 22 of that year, at Toledo, 0hio. The platform adopted was similar to that of the Greenback party. It advocated the withdrawal of currency from all national and State banks and corporations, a paper currency issued by the Government, and that coin should only be paid for interest on the national debt when so specified. They also demanded an eight-hour law, the prohibition of Chinese immigration, of land grants to railways and of special grants to corporations and bondholders. In 1878 they elected fourteen Congressmen. Their national convention was held at Chicago, on June the 9th, 1880. Research Greenback Labor Party
The Haymarket Massacre was an Anarchist riot in Chicago, USA. The troubles originated in labour troubles which culminated in an open-air meeting in Haymarket Square, Chicago on May the 4th, 1886. Violent speeches were made by the Anarchists Spies, Parsons and Fielden. A bomb was thrown among the police, causing great loss of life. Spies, Parsons, Fischer, Engel, Schwab, Lingg and Neebe were arrested and tried. The first four were hanged on November 11, 1887. Fielden and Schwab were imprisoned for life. Lingg committed suicide. Governor Altgeld, of Illinois, pardoned Fielden and Schwab in 1893. Research Haymarket Massacre
Kiwanis International is an originally American and now international organisation of service clubs, composed of business and professional people, founded to render service to the community and to promote better business and professional standards. The name is derived from the Indian word keewanis (meaning 'to make oneself known') . The club motto is 'We build'. Local clubs are active in their communities, supporting law-enforcement and public-service agencies and promoting good citizenship. Many local clubs send underprivileged children to summercamps. The first Kiwanis club was organised in Detroit in 1915. In 1917 Kiwanis clubs were chartered in Canada; the name Kiwanis International was adopted at the 1924 national convention.
Kiwanis International now comprises several thousand local clubs in many countries. The Kiwanis Magazine, a monthly, is published from the national headquarters in Chicago. Research Kiwanis International More information about Kiwanis International
The Liberty Bell was a bell cast in London and received at Philadelphia in August, 1752, when it was hung in the Pennsylvania State House, afterward known as Independence Hall. The bell was broken up and recast in April, and again in June, 1753. It announced the American Declaration of Independence on July the 4th, 1776. It was cracked on July the 8th, 1835, while being tolled in memory of Chief Justice Marshall. The bell was exhibited in the Pennsylvania State Building at the World's Columbian Exhibition at Chicago in 1893. Research Liberty Bell
Munn Vs Illinois was an American legal case, known as one of the 'elevator cases'. The case was decided by the Supreme Court of the US. In 1872, Munn and Scott, lessees of a grain elevator and warehouse in Chicago, were found guilty in the Criminal Court of Cook County, Illinois, of violating Article thirteen of the State Constitution relating to the storage of grain. They had neglected to take out a license and give bond, and were charging rates higher than prescribed in the above-mentioned act. They were fined, and the decision was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Illinois, whence the case was transferred to the Supreme Court of the United States. That body confirmed the judgment on the ground that the Act of the Illinois Legislature was not repugnant to the national Constitution, and that a State could lawfully determine how a man. might use his own property, when the good of other citizens was involved. Research Munn Vs Illinois
Playboy is an American soft-porn men's magazine founded in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and world famous for it's 'bunny head' logo. Since the magazine, Playboy has extended into cabaret clubs, the first club being opened in Chicago, Illinois in 1960, famed for their waitresses dressed as 'Playboy Bunnies', a television channel and in 1994 a web site. In 1988 the last American Playboy club closed and in1991 the last international Playboy club, in Manila, closed. Research Playboy
Prohibition is usually thought of as the legal ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor. Prohibition is usually promoted by religious fundamentalists, and historically has proven a disastrous experiment.
In America, which has a long history of indulgence in prohibition, it appeared first as an issue in purely State politics in the Maine Legislature in 1837, a prohibitory bill being introduced, but defeated. Later, in 1846 (and permanently in 1851), a prohibitory law was passed in Maine. Following the lead of Maine, prohibitory laws were enacted between 1850 and 1856, in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan, New York, Iowa and Connecticut. Other States tried the experiment and local option has been established in some of the towns and counties of these and many other States.
Prohibition first appeared as a national issue in America during the session of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars, held in Oswego, New York on May the 25th, 1869. A committee was appointed to issue a call for a convention. This convention assembled at Chicago on September 1st, 1869, and formed the National Prohibition Reform party. The first nominating convention of this party was held at ColumbusOhio on February the 22nd, 1872. James Black, of Pennsylvania, was nominated for President and polled 5608 votes.
Prohibition was largely entered into both national and State politics since that time, but is most influential in the States. In 1876 Henry Blair, of New Hampshire, introduced into the House a joint resolution to amend the Federal Constitution by prohibiting from and after 1900 the manufacture and sale of distilled alcoholic intoxicating liquors. It was not adopted. In national politics the Prohibition vote steadily increased. In 1876 its Presidential candidate, Green Clay Smith, received 9522 votes; in 1880 Neal Dow received 10,305; in 1884 John St John, 150,369; in 1888 Clinton Fiske, 250,290; in 1892 John Bidwell, 268,361.
During the Great War a temporary Wartime Prohibition Act was passed in the USA to save grain for use as food and in 1919 the National Prohibition Act, popularly known as the Volstead Act after its promoter, Congressman Andrew Volstead, was enacted, providing enforcement guidelines and the 18th Amendment was introduced banning the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within and the importation of same into the United States. This resulted in the birth of organised gangs of criminals illegally distilling, importing and selling alcoholic liquor to the masses. This in turn led to gang warfare between rival criminal gangs, a plethora of killings and the notorious gangsters of the 20's. In 1933 prohibition was repealed in the USA by the passing of the 21st Amendment which repealed the 18th Amendment, and once more allowed the manufacture, sale and importation of alcoholic liquor in the United States.
In the USA, the spoils system is the granting of offices and favours among the supporters of a party in office and of punishment for those who have not supported the party. The system was developed in New York and Pennsylvania more than elsewhere, largely because of the existence in those States of a large body of apathetic non-English voters. In New York the ill-devised council of appointment had much to do with the growth of the system, and so had Aaron Burr. In the Federal Government, Jefferson carried out the system to a considerable extent. The Act of 1820 prescribing a four-years' term for many officers favoured its growth. Finally, the politicians who surrounded Jackson brought it to its full development as an engine of party warfare. It has since been a regular feature of American politico in every administration, tempered of late by the provisions of the Civil Service Act of 1883. The phrase was derived from a statement of Senator W L Marcy, of New York, in a speech in the Senate in 1832. Speaking of the New York politicians, he said: 'They see nothing wrong in the rule that to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy'.
The spoils system, a type of patronage, was used by President Jackson in the 1830s in particular, and by Republican administrations after the American Civil War. The practice remained common in the 20th century in US local government. The system reached a peak under the presidency of Ulysses S Grant. In the 20th century, civil-service posts in large cities were often filled on the recommendation of newly elected political leaders. The system was epitomised by the Democratic Party 'machine' of Richard Daley, mayor of Chicago from 1955 to 1976. Research Spoils System
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Matt and Leela Probert
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Research Anti-Monopoly Party
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