The 56th Congress of the United States convened from December 1899 to March 1901. It was composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, with significant events including the passage of the Gold Standard Act in 1900, which established gold as the sole standard for redeeming paper money. During this Congress, the Spanish-American War concluded, leading to discussions about the future of territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines. The Congress also addressed issues related to labor rights and trust regulation, reflecting the growing concerns of the American public during the turn of the century.