William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. He was a Republican who championed protective tariffs and the gold standard.
William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. He was born in Niles, Ohio in 1843 and was the seventh of nine children. He was raised in a devoutly religious family and attended local schools before enrolling in Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. After graduating in 1864, he enlisted in the Union Army and served in the Civil War.
McKinley was a Republican and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1876. He served in Congress for 14 years, becoming the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He was elected Governor of Ohio in 1891 and was re-elected in 1893. In 1896, he was nominated as the Republican candidate for President and won the election.
During his presidency, McKinley was a strong advocate of protective tariffs and the gold standard. He also supported the annexation of Hawaii and the Spanish-American War. He was a proponent of the gold standard and was successful in passing the Gold Standard Act of 1900. He also signed the Dingley Tariff, which raised tariffs on imported goods.
McKinley was assassinated in 1901 by an anarchist, Leon Czolgosz. He was succeeded by his Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt. McKinley is remembered for his strong support of the gold standard, his advocacy of protective tariffs, and his role in the Spanish-American War. He is also remembered for his strong religious faith and his commitment to civil service.