justjlm.org – William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, led the nation through a period of economic growth, international expansion, and the beginnings of American imperialism. His presidency, from 1897 until his assassination in 1901, was marked by significant events that would shape the nation’s future for decades to come. McKinley’s leadership during the Spanish-American War, his focus on economic prosperity, and his eventual tragic death at the hands of an assassin contributed to his complex legacy.
Early Life and Political Career
Born on January 29, 1843, in Niles, Ohio, William McKinley came from a modest background. He attended Allegheny College and later taught school before entering law school. His early life was marked by a commitment to public service and an early interest in politics. McKinley served in the Union Army during the Civil War, where he rose to the rank of major, earning a reputation for bravery and leadership.
After the war, McKinley returned to Ohio and began a successful career in law and politics. He served as a U.S. Congressman from 1877 to 1883, where he became known for his strong support of protective tariffs. This commitment to high tariffs, which he believed would protect American industries and jobs, would become a cornerstone of his political ideology. McKinley was also governor of Ohio from 1892 to 1896, a position that helped raise his national profile and positioned him as a leader in the Republican Party.
The 1896 Election and the Road to the Presidency
In 1896, McKinley became the Republican nominee for president after defeating his main rival, William B. Allison, in a bitter convention battle. His campaign focused on the gold standard and the protectionist tariff, and he positioned himself as the candidate of prosperity. McKinley’s opponent, Democrat William Jennings Bryan, ran on a platform that advocated for the free coinage of silver to inflate the money supply and alleviate the economic hardships of farmers.
McKinley’s campaign was supported by industrialists, business leaders, and urban populations who feared the inflationary policies of Bryan’s platform. The election became one of the most significant in U.S. history, as it represented a clash between the old economic order based on gold and the new populist forces advocating for silver. McKinley won the election by a significant margin in the electoral vote, though Bryan won the popular vote. McKinley’s victory marked the beginning of a period of Republican dominance in American politics.
The Presidency: 1897–1901
McKinley’s presidency was characterized by both domestic achievements and international challenges. He inherited a nation recovering from the economic depression of the 1890s, and his administration worked to implement policies that fostered prosperity and global influence.
Economic Prosperity and the Gold Standard
One of McKinley’s key achievements was the restoration of economic stability. He successfully led the nation out of the depression by supporting the gold standard, which many believed would provide financial security and prevent inflation. McKinley’s commitment to the gold standard helped restore public confidence in the U.S. economy. In 1900, Congress passed the Gold Standard Act, which officially put the country on the gold standard and ended the debate over silver coinage.
Additionally, McKinley’s administration focused on economic growth through protective tariffs. The Dingley Tariff of 1897, which increased tariffs on imported goods, was one of the highest in U.S. history and aimed to protect American industries from foreign competition. While the tariff benefited manufacturers, it was unpopular among farmers, who saw it as driving up the cost of goods.
The Spanish-American War
Perhaps the most defining moment of McKinley’s presidency was his leadership during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The war was precipitated by the Cuban War of Independence and the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, which was blamed on Spain, despite unclear evidence. McKinley initially sought to avoid war, but public pressure, fueled by sensationalist journalism and growing Cuban-American support for the Cuban independence movement, led him to declare war on Spain.
The war was brief, lasting only a few months, and ended with a decisive victory for the United States. Spain ceded control of its overseas territories, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, to the U.S. in the Treaty of Paris. This marked the beginning of the United States’ emergence as a global imperial power. The war also significantly boosted McKinley’s popularity, although the issue of imperialism would become contentious in the years to follow.
The Philippine-American War
Following the Spanish-American War, the United States faced challenges in its new imperial holdings, particularly in the Philippines. Many Filipinos, who had hoped for independence after Spain’s defeat, resisted U.S. control, leading to the Philippine-American War (1899–1902). McKinley justified the war as a mission to “civilize” and “uplift” the Filipino people, but the conflict was brutal and led to widespread criticism of U.S. imperialism. The war would continue for several years after McKinley’s assassination.
The Assassination of William McKinley
McKinley’s second term was cut tragically short by an assassin’s bullet. On September 6, 1901, McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. McKinley succumbed to his injuries eight days later, on September 14, 1901, at the age of 58. His death shocked the nation and left the presidency to his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, who would go on to become one of the most dynamic and transformative presidents in American history.
Legacy
William McKinley’s legacy is complex. On the one hand, he presided over a period of economic prosperity, technological innovation, and the beginning of American imperialism. His leadership during the Spanish-American War, which resulted in the U.S. gaining overseas territories, marked the nation’s entry into the ranks of global powers. On the other hand, McKinley’s legacy is also tied to the contentious issue of imperialism, which would continue to be debated long after his death.
His commitment to economic stability, protectionist policies, and the gold standard helped lay the foundation for the modern U.S. economy. However, his assassination left many questions about the future of U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics unanswered, as his successor, Theodore Roosevelt, would chart a very different course.
McKinley is remembered as a steady and pragmatic leader who navigated the nation through a period of profound change, setting the stage for the 20th century’s rapid transformation. His tragic assassination, however, underscored the volatile political environment of the time and the challenges faced by presidents during an era of social and economic upheaval.