William Mckinley

In 1896, a country that had suffered through the failure of businesses and banks was in favor of a candidate who would put an end to the economic recession. The Republican Party campaigned against the brilliant orator, William Jennings Bryan. This election would determine whether or not the United States was going to return to the good times that it had experienced only a few years before. Grover Cleveland and all Democrats in general were blamed for the country’s troubles, so it wasn’t too hard for McKinley to win a majority of the votes. The November election brought handsome returns as the Republicans emerged triumphant, and thus William McKinley became our nation’s twnety-fifth president.

However promising the McKinley administration looked, trouble was hanging over the president’s head. In 1898, America fought a war with Spain to ensure Cuban independence, and within only a few short months, the war was over and the victory had been won. Americans all throughout the country rejoiced in celebration, and the United States gained prestige at home and all around the world. In 1900, business was good and the economy was booming. Once more McKinley was nominated, and again he campaigned against William Jennings Bryan. The issues were essentially the same as they had been four years earlier. As expected, McKinley was re-elected. Another four years seemed to be the answer to the future of the nation. But only six months into his second term McKinley was shot and killed by an anarchist, thus becoming the third president to die at the hands of an assassin.

Early Life

William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, in Niles, Ohio. There he spent the first few years of his life among his brothers and his sisters. Then, when he was nine years old, the McKinley family moved to the town of Poland, which was about the same size as Niles. McKinley was tutored at several different schools. Since he was considered to be a good orator, he was made president of the debating society. While he was in attendance at the local schools, McKinley took an active interest in Christianity and became a Methodist.

When he was seventeen in 1860, McKinley enrolled in Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He stayed there for one year before dropping out due to illness. At this time the United States was at war against itself, and McKinley enlisted in the Union Army to offer his services. He entered as a private in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. One of his superior officers, Rutherford B. Hayes, took a liking to the young man who was eager to do his very best along with all the other soldiers. Hayes, who was also from Ohio, would in 1877 become America’s nineteenth president.