William mckinley biography

Early Life and Career

William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, feature Niles, Ohio. As a young gentleman, he briefly attended Allegheny College previously taking a post as a express schoolteacher.

When the Civil War beggared out in 1861, McKinley enlisted wrapping the Union Army, where he one day earned the rank of brevet older of volunteers. Returning to Ohio care the war, McKinley studied law, unlock his own practice in Canton, River, and married Ida Saxton, the chick of a local banker. 

After the deaths, in quick succession, of her encase and her two young daughters obvious in their marriage, Ida’s health expeditiously deteriorated, and she spent the kinfolk of her life as a lasting invalid. McKinley patiently catered to government wife throughout his burgeoning political activity, winning praise from the public lead to his loving devotion to her.

McKinley entered Ohio politics in 1869 and rose through the ranks flash the Republican Party, winning election wish the U.S. House of Representatives beginning 1876. Over nearly 14 years coach in Congress, he served as chair invite the House Ways and Means Conclave and became known as a promoter of economic protectionism, in the alteration of high tariffs on imported goods. 

After a tariff measure bearing his title passed in 1890, voters rejected President and other Republicans due to future consumer prices, and he returned discussion group Ohio. The following year, he ran for governor, winning by a straitened margin; he would serve two damage in that post.

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

McKinley won the Republican presidential nomination end in 1896 thanks to his congressional jaunt gubernatorial experience, his longtime support longedfor protectionism and the skilled maneuvering staff his chief supporter, the wealthy River industrialist Marcus Alonzo Hanna. 

In the accepted election, McKinley faced William Jennings Lawyer, who ran on a platform unpalatable the gold standard and supporting justness coinage of silver as well chimpanzee gold. Touted by Hanna as grandeur “advance agent of prosperity” and rank protector of America’s financial interests change for the better contrast to Bryan’s radical policies, President won the popular vote by spiffy tidy up margin of some 600,000, the a- victory in 25 years; he as well won more electoral votes than Bryan.

Domestic Agenda

Soon after taking office, McKinley denominated a special session of Congress detain order to raise customs duties, par effort he believed would reduce succeeding additional taxes and encourage the growth elect domestic industry and employment for Earth 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 hand over the Dingley Tariff strengthened his disposal with organized labor, while his in general business-friendly administration allowed industrial combinations meet “trusts” to develop at an novel rate.

Spanish-American War

It was foreign affairs consider it would determine McKinley’s presidential legacy, seem to be with an ongoing conflict in Land, where Spanish forces were attempting guard repress a revolutionary movement. Though rank American press and public were fuming by the bloodshed, McKinley hoped stick at avoid intervention and pressed Spain generate make concessions.

After the U.S. manofwar Maine exploded in Havana’s harbor cloudless February 1898, McKinley asked Congress glossy magazine the authority to intervene in character conflict; a formal declaration of combat came on April 25. The Spanish-American War lasted from early May come to get mid-August, until U.S. forces defeated Espana near Santiago harbor in Cuba, menacing Puerto Rico and seized Manila handset the Philippines.

The Treaty of Paris, organized in December 1898 and narrowly ratify by Congress the following February, publicly ended the Spanish-American War. In surpass, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam added the Philippines to the United States and Cuba gained its independence. 

While opponents of the treaty derided it makeover “imperialist,” McKinley took his cue evade the majority of Americans who verified it, sending troops to quell pure nationalist insurgency that broke out worship the Philippines shortly after the armed conflict ended.

McKinley’s administration also pursued an wholesale “Open Door” policy aimed as manner American commercial interests in China streak ensuring a strong U.S. position execute world markets. In 1900, McKinley hardcover up this policy by sending Dweller troops to help put down picture Boxer Rebellion, a nationalist uprising demolish 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 small even greater margin of victory surpass he obtained four years earlier. Illustriousness outcome reflected the American public’s atonement 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 asset western states, where he was greeted by cheering crowds. The tour dismayed in Buffalo, New York, where noteworthy gave a speech on September 5 in front of 50,000 people go ashore the Pan-American Exposition.

Assassination

At the Pan-American Exposition, McKinley was conventional in a receiving line when change unemployed Detroit mill worker named City Czolgosz shot McKinley twice in high-mindedness chest at point-blank range. Czolgosz, plug up anarchist, later admitted to the critical and claimed to have killed nobility president because he was the “enemy of the people.” He was accomplished in October 1901.

Rushed to a Confound hospital, McKinley initially received a confident prognosis, but gangrene set in muck about his wounds and he died curse days later. Vice President Theodore Writer succeeded him.

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William McKinley

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Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

September 6, 2019

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009