Bryan campaigned vigorously, traveling thousands of miles and delivering hundreds of speeches in support of an inflated currency that would help poor farmers and other debtors. He went on to hold the office of Ohio’s governor and set his eyes on the country’s presidency. While it was only natural for a Republican from a rapidly industrializing state to favour protection, McKinley’s support reflected more than his party’s pro-business bias. Before he became President, McKinley was a congressman of Ohio Presidency. He was easily re-elected in 1900, but within six months into his second term, he was shot by an unemployed man named Leon Czolgosz, and died a few days later, https://millercenter.org/president/mckinley, http://www.tomatobubble.com/span_am_war.html, http://fineartamerica.com/featured/william-mckinley-1843-1901-granger.html, http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/william+mckinley/all, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:William_McKinley_by_Courtney_Art_Studio,_1896.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_McKinley_cph.3a02108.jpg. McKinley ran on a Republican platform emphasizing maintenance of the gold standard, while his opponent—William Jennings Bryan, candidate of both the Democratic and Populist parties—called for a bimetallic standard of gold and silver. The country was in the throes of an economic depression, and he promised to restore prosperity to the economy through high tariffs. The couple also famously served as the nation's first couple from 1897 to 1901. All rights reserved. Shortly after he was re-elected as the president, McKinley embarked on a tour of the western states which ended with a speech at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, on September 5, 1901. McKinley married Ida Saxton (Ida McKinley) in 1871. McKinley stood for re-election in 1900, and this time too he faced his previous opponent, William Jennings Bryan, who he defeated with a greater margin of victory than he obtained four years earlier. For his part, Hanna tapped big businesses for enormous campaign contributions while simultaneously directing a network of Republican speakers who portrayed Bryan as a dangerous radical and McKinley as “the advance agent of prosperity.” McKinley won the election decisively, becoming the first president to achieve a popular majority since 1872 and bettering Bryan 271 to 176 in the electoral vote. William McKinley being transported to a hospital after an assassination attempt in Buffalo, N.Y., 1901. President William McKinley is credited to have brought about rapid economic progress in America during his tenure. Eighteen years old at the start of the Civil War, McKinley enlisted in an Ohio regiment under the command of Rutherford B. Hayes, later the 19th president of the United States (1877–81). In the final analysis, however, William McKinley died for a … Presidential campaign ribbon for William McKinley. William McKinley, (born January 29, 1843, Niles, Ohio, U.S.—died September 14, 1901, Buffalo, New York), 25th president of the United States (1897–1901). His administration was marked by rapid economic growth and he secured the passage of the Gold Standard Act. McKinley went on to win the nomination easily. U.S. President William McKinley speaking at the Pan American Exposition held in Buffalo, New York, 1901. As promised, he quickly set upon bringing about financial and tariff reforms to accelerate the economic growth of the nation. The ratification vote was extremely close—just one vote more than the required two-thirds—reflecting opposition by many “anti-imperialists” to the United States acquiring overseas possessions, especially without the consent of the people who lived in them. McKinley remained at home in Canton, greeting visiting delegations of Republicans at his front porch and giving carefully prepared speeches promoting the benefits of a gold-backed currency. Having worked as a school teacher before the war, he decided to study law once the war was over. The presidential campaign of 1896 was one of the most exciting in American history. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/william-mckinley-4202.php, Celebrities Who Look Beautiful Even Without Makeup, The Hottest Male Celebrities With The Best Abs, The Top 25 Wrestling Announcers Of All Time. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. However, he remained there for only one year before he became ill with depression and returned home. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Inaugurated president March 4, 1897, McKinley promptly called a special session of Congress to revise customs duties upward. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... What did Thomas Jefferson invent to make work more comfortable? Campaign image of presidential incumbent William McKinley and his vice presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt, 1900. On this day in 1901, President William McKinley died, eight days after being shot in the stomach at the World’s Fair in Buffalo, New York. During those years Hanna, a powerful figure in the Republican Party, laid plans to gain the party’s presidential nomination for his good friend in 1896. Within two years, the future first lady witnessed the deaths of her mother and two daughters. He was inaugurated for his second term as the president on March 4, 1901. We must not repose in fancied security that we can forever sell everything and buy little or nothing. The following year he was elected prosecuting attorney for Stark county, and in 1877 he began his long career in Congress as representative from Ohio’s 17th district. McKinley was assassinated in … Her death, six years following the death of her husband, she was alongside... In Ohio in 1867 and Ulysses S. Grant for president in 1868 very dramatic presidential race election of 1896 one... The following day transported to a hospital in Buffalo, New York and opened his practice. 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