In 1890 William McKinley, as chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee, passed through Congress the McKinley Tariff. The Democrats used the high tariff against the Republicans in the 1892 election, claiming high tariffs created higher prices. After the Democrats won the nation fell into a recession and the voters began to believe the higher tariff actually helped. This change in attitude helped usher McKinley into the White House in the next election.
Historically Speaking 