William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. He played a significant role in the social and labor unrest of the 1890s, as well as the Spanish-American War and the subsequent expansion of the United States' overseas empire.
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McKinley was a Republican who supported the gold standard and high protective tariffs, policies that were favored by business elites during the Gilded Age.
As president, McKinley signed the Dingley Tariff Act in 1897, which raised import duties to record levels and contributed to the growing social and labor unrest of the era.
McKinley's administration was marked by the Spanish-American War in 1898, which resulted in the United States gaining control over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, expanding its overseas empire.
McKinley's imperialist policies and the subsequent Philippine-American War (1899-1902) sparked debate and controversy over the role of the United States in global affairs.
McKinley's assassination in 1901 by anarchist Leon Czolgosz was seen by some as a reaction to the growing social and economic inequalities of the Gilded Age.
Review Questions
Explain how William McKinley's economic policies contributed to the social and labor unrest of the 1890s.
William McKinley's support for high protective tariffs and the gold standard during his presidency from 1897 to 1901 were seen as favoring the interests of business elites over the working class. The Dingley Tariff Act, signed by McKinley in 1897, raised import duties to record levels, which increased the cost of living for many Americans and fueled growing social and labor unrest. McKinley's pro-business policies were viewed by many as exacerbating the stark economic inequality and exploitation of workers that characterized the Gilded Age.
Describe the role of William McKinley in the Spanish-American War and the subsequent expansion of the United States' overseas empire.
As president, William McKinley oversaw the Spanish-American War in 1898, which resulted in the United States gaining control over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This marked a significant expansion of the country's overseas empire and its involvement in global affairs. McKinley's imperialist policies and the subsequent Philippine-American War (1899-1902) sparked debate and controversy over the appropriate role of the United States in international relations. The acquisition of these territories and the debates surrounding them were important developments in the broader context of the United States' growing power and influence on the global stage during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Analyze how William McKinley's assassination in 1901 was connected to the social and economic conditions of the Gilded Age.
The assassination of William McKinley in 1901 by anarchist Leon Czolgosz was seen by some as a reaction to the growing social and economic inequalities of the Gilded Age. McKinley's pro-business policies and support for the gold standard and high protective tariffs were viewed by many as favoring the interests of the wealthy elite at the expense of the working class. The stark disparities in wealth and power during this period, as well as the social and labor unrest that resulted, created an environment of resentment and discontent that may have contributed to the motivation behind McKinley's assassination. His death brought renewed attention to the underlying social and economic tensions that had been building throughout the Gilded Age.
The period of rapid economic and industrial growth in the United States from the 1870s to the early 1900s, marked by stark social and economic inequality.
The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, often by establishing colonies or gaining control over other nations.