Billy Hughes vs Rutherford B. Hayes

Billy Hughes became Prime Minister of Australia on October 27, 1915, succeeding Andrew Fisher. He led the country through the remainder of World War I, becoming a dominant figure in Australian politics.

Hughes held two national referendums on conscription for overseas military service during WWI, in 1916 and 1917. Both were narrowly defeated, causing a split in the Labor Party. Hughes and his supporters left to form the Nationalist Party.

Following the defeat of the first conscription referendum, Hughes was expelled from the Australian Labor Party in November 1916. He then formed the National Labor Party, which later merged with the Liberal Party to become the Nationalist Party.

Hughes represented Australia at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. He argued strongly for Australian interests, including control over former German colonies in the Pacific and reparations from Germany. He also secured Australia's separate membership in the League of Nations.

Hayes won the disputed 1876 presidential election against Democrat Samuel Tilden. The Electoral Commission awarded Hayes all disputed electoral votes, making him president despite Tilden winning the popular vote.

Hayes issued an executive order banning federal employees from political activities and requiring merit-based appointments. His efforts faced opposition from Congress and were largely ineffective.

Hayes agreed to the Compromise of 1877, which ended Reconstruction in exchange for Democratic acceptance of his presidency. He withdrew federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction.

Hayes ordered the removal of federal troops from Louisiana and South Carolina, the last states under military occupation. This ended federal protection for African American civil rights and allowed white supremacist rule.

Hayes used federal troops to suppress the Great Railroad Strike, which began in West Virginia and spread nationwide. The strike was crushed, resulting in over 100 deaths and widespread property damage.

Hayes signed the Bland-Allison Act over his veto, requiring the Treasury to purchase silver and coin it into dollars. The act aimed to inflate the currency and help debtors.