Republicans threw the political doors open to western territories that had been denied statehood in the years of divided government. Most were still vast expanses with few people, but the Republicans countered the Democrats’ structural advantage in the House, which came from disenfranchising black voters to create the Solid South, with their own ability to elect senators by the acre. Following Harrison’s victory, Cleveland and the lame duck Democrats recognized the inevitable and agreed to admit Montana, Washington, North Dakota, and South Dakota (1889) in the hope that Montana at least would
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