 "Presidents of the United States: William McKinley, the expansionist leader who was assassinated in 1901")
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of profiles taking a closer look at US presidents ahead of the 2024 presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, served from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. A staunch Republican, McKinley’s presidency is remembered for overseeing the Spanish-American War, which marked the United States’ emergence as a global power.
His policies fostered economic growth through protective tariffs and expansionist foreign policies. McKinley’s presidency ended in tragedy when he was assassinated, making him one of only four US presidents to be killed while in office.
His tenure left a significant impact on America’s role in the world and set the stage for the Progressive Era that followed under Theodore Roosevelt.
McKinley’s personal life
William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, in Niles, Ohio, the seventh of nine children. Raised in a modest family, McKinley’s father owned an iron foundry. He attended Allegheny College briefly but had to leave due to financial constraints and illness.
He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving under future US President Rutherford B Hayes and rising to the rank of brevet major. After the war, McKinley studied law and passed the bar in 1867.
He married Ida Saxton in 1871, and the couple had two daughters, both of whom died in early childhood. The loss of their children deeply affected Ida, who suffered from chronic health issues throughout her life.
McKinley was known for his devotion to his wife, often tending to her during public events and prioritising her well-being. He was a devout Methodist and frequently attended church. His personal warmth, devotion to his wife, and calm demeanour earned him widespread respect, even among political opponents.
Rise in politics
He began his political career in Ohio, where he was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1876, serving seven terms. A key advocate of protective tariffs, McKinley believed in fostering American industry through government policies that shielded domestic businesses from foreign competition.
His leadership on tariff issues led to his authorship of the McKinley Tariff of 1890, which raised tariff rates to historically high levels. Though initially popular among industrialists, the tariff became controversial, and McKinley lost his House seat in the backlash against Republicans in the 1890 election.
McKinley rebounded politically when he was elected governor of Ohio in 1891, serving two terms. His popularity in Ohio, coupled with his unwavering support for high tariffs, made him a strong contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 1896.
A seat in the Oval Office
In the 1896 US presidential election, McKinley ran as the Republican candidate against Democrat William Jennings Bryan. The election was a pivotal moment in American politics, pitting McKinley’s pro-business and high-tariff platform against Bryan’s populist calls for free silver and the interests of farmers and labourers.
McKinley’s campaign, managed by political strategist Mark Hanna, raised unprecedented funds from business interests and used new tactics such as advertising and train travel to reach voters. He advocated for the “gold standard” and promised economic stability through sound money policies, in contrast to Bryan’s support for the inflationary use of silver. He won the election decisively, ushering in an era of Republican dominance in national politics.
The domestic policy of William McKinley
McKinley’s domestic policy focused on restoring economic prosperity following the Panic of 1893. His administration’s primary economic achievement was the passage of the Dingley Tariff in 1897, which raised tariffs to even higher levels than those in the McKinley Tariff. The protective tariff was designed to safeguard American manufacturers and promote industrial growth.
McKinley also oversaw the adoption of the Gold Standard Act in 1900, which officially committed the US to the gold standard, stabilising the nation’s currency and ensuring long-term economic growth.
His administration’s policies contributed to the economic recovery that occurred in the late 1890s, solidifying McKinley’s reputation as a protector of American business interests.
The Spanish-American war and Imperial expansion
McKinley’s foreign policy is best known for the Spanish-American War of 1898, which dramatically reshaped America’s global role. Initially, McKinley sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Spain and Cuban insurgents, but public pressure, coupled with the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbour, led to calls for intervention.
Despite his reluctance to go to war, McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war in April 1898. The war was brief but transformative. In just a few months, the United States defeated Spain and gained control of former Spanish territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
The Treaty of Paris, which ended the war, marked the United States’ transition from a continental nation to an imperial power with overseas colonies.
McKinley’s decision to annex the Philippines sparked significant debate at home, with critics accusing him of abandoning American ideals of self-determination. McKinley, however, argued that the US had a duty to “civilise” and uplift the people of its new territories.
Under McKinley, the United States also annexed Hawaii in 1898, furthering its strategic interests in the Pacific.
The assassination of William McKinley
McKinley was re-elected in 1900, once again defeating William Jennings Bryan, this time with Theodore Roosevelt as his vice-presidential running mate. The campaign focused on America’s new global status and continued economic prosperity.
In September 1901, while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, McKinley was shot twice by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist. Though initially appearing to recover, McKinley developed gangrene and died on September 14, 1901, at the age of 58.
His assassination shocked the nation and elevated Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency. McKinley’s assassination made him the third US president to be killed while in office, following Abraham Lincoln and James A Garfield.
A legacy of two ages
William McKinley’s presidency is often seen as a bridge between the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era. His economic policies, particularly his commitment to protective tariffs and the gold standard, helped stabilise the US economy and promote industrial growth.
Under his leadership, the United States became a global power, with overseas colonies and strategic interests in both the Pacific and the Caribbean.
However, McKinley’s expansionist foreign policy also sparked debates about imperialism and America’s role in the world. While some praised his leadership in the Spanish-American War and the annexation of new territories, others criticised his policies as a betrayal of the nation’s democratic values.
McKinley’s presidency is often overshadowed by the dynamic leadership of his successor, Theodore Roosevelt, but his contributions to America’s rise as a world power and his efforts to promote economic stability remain significant.
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