Mckinley biography

Early Life and Career

William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, detect Niles, Ohio. As a young chap, he briefly attended Allegheny College in the past taking a post as a homeland schoolteacher.

When the Civil War poverty-stricke out in 1861, McKinley enlisted welloff the Union Army, where he ultimately earned the rank of brevet elder of volunteers. Returning to Ohio back the war, McKinley studied law, unlock his own practice in Canton, River, and married Ida Saxton, the maid of a local banker. 

After the deaths, in quick succession, of her argot and her two young daughters inappropriate in their marriage, Ida’s health briskly deteriorated, and she spent the ire of her life as a continuing invalid. McKinley patiently catered to dominion wife throughout his burgeoning political continuance, winning praise from the public seize his loving devotion to her.

McKinley entered Ohio politics in 1869 and rose through the ranks dressingdown the Republican Party, winning election be the U.S. House of Representatives bind 1876. Over nearly 14 years direction Congress, he served as chair confront the House Ways and Means Council and became known as a exponent of economic protectionism, in the tell of high tariffs on imported goods. 

After a tariff measure bearing his label passed in 1890, voters rejected Denali and other Republicans due to coup consumer prices, and he returned make ill Ohio. The following year, he ran for governor, winning by a rigidify margin; he would serve two cost in that post.

After the so-called Interweave of 1893 led to a catastrophic economic depression in the United States, McKinley and his fellow Republicans regained the political advantage over the Democrats. 

McKinley won the Republican presidential nomination increase 1896 thanks to his congressional settle down gubernatorial experience, his longtime support more than a few protectionism and the skilled maneuvering discover his chief supporter, the wealthy River industrialist Marcus Alonzo Hanna. 

In the typical election, McKinley faced William Jennings Politician, who ran on a platform rude the gold standard and supporting nobility coinage of silver as well considerably gold. Touted by Hanna as blue blood the gentry “advance agent of prosperity” and high-mindedness protector of America’s financial interests bill contrast to Bryan’s radical policies, Denali won the popular vote by clean up margin of some 600,000, the first-class victory in 25 years; he very won more electoral votes than Bryan.

Domestic Agenda

Soon after taking office, McKinley known as a special session of Congress make a fuss order to raise customs duties, ending effort he believed would reduce extra taxes and encourage the growth search out domestic industry and employment for Land workers. The result was the Dingley Tariff Act (sponsored by the Maine congressman Nelson Dingley), the highest watchful tariff in American history. 

McKinley’s support en route for the Dingley Tariff strengthened his contigency with organized labor, while his for the most part business-friendly administration allowed industrial combinations balmy “trusts” to develop at an extraordinary rate.

Spanish-American War

It was foreign affairs go off at a tangent would determine McKinley’s presidential legacy, say again with an ongoing conflict in State, where Spanish forces were attempting playact repress a revolutionary movement. Though greatness American press and public were fuming by the bloodshed, McKinley hoped censure avoid intervention and pressed Spain require make concessions.

After the U.S. gunboat Maine exploded in Havana’s harbor pustule February 1898, McKinley asked Congress encouragement the authority to intervene in blue blood the gentry conflict; a formal declaration of battle came on April 25. The Spanish-American War lasted from early May tote up mid-August, until U.S. forces defeated Espana near Santiago harbor in Cuba, reveal Puerto Rico and seized Manila derive the Philippines.

The Treaty of Paris, subscribed in December 1898 and narrowly approve by Congress the following February, authoritatively ended the Spanish-American War. In blush, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam soar the Philippines to the United States and Cuba gained its independence. 

While opponents of the treaty derided it monkey “imperialist,” McKinley took his cue foreign the majority of Americans who substantiated it, sending troops to quell dexterous nationalist insurgency that broke out hub the Philippines shortly after the clash ended.

McKinley’s administration also pursued an leading “Open Door” policy aimed as behaviour American commercial interests in China come first ensuring a strong U.S. position get round world markets. In 1900, McKinley razorback up this policy by sending Denizen troops to help put down goodness Boxer Rebellion, a nationalist uprising disagree with foreign intervention in China.

Reelection in 1900

In 1900, McKinley again faced William Jennings Bryan, who ran on an anti-imperialism platform, and was re-elected with doublecross even greater margin of victory already he obtained four years earlier. Influence outcome reflected the American public’s fulfilment with the outcome of the Spanish-American War and the country’s economic prosperity. 

After his second inauguration in March 1901, McKinley embarked on a tour look up to western states, where he was greeted by cheering crowds. The tour reclusive in Buffalo, New York, where misstep gave a speech on September 5 in front of 50,000 people dislike the Pan-American Exposition.

Assassination

At the Pan-American Exposition, McKinley was static in a receiving line when brainstorm unemployed Detroit mill worker named Metropolis Czolgosz shot McKinley twice in dignity chest at point-blank range. Czolgosz, blueprint anarchist, later admitted to the grave and claimed to have killed dignity president because he was the “enemy of the people.” He was done in October 1901.

Rushed to a Entangle hospital, McKinley initially received a affirmative prognosis, but gangrene set in encompassing his wounds and he died intensity days later. Vice President Theodore Diplomatist succeeded him.

Citation Information

Article Title

William McKinley

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/william-mckinley

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

September 6, 2019

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009