William mckinley background information
William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. He was born on January 29, 1843, in Niles, Ohio. McKinley grew up in a middle-class family and attended local schools before enrolling at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. However, he left college before completing his degree to enlist in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
During the war, McKinley rose to the rank of major and served on the staff of General Rutherford B. Hayes. After the war, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1867.
McKinley began his political career as a Republican, representing Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1877 to 1891. During his time in Congress, he became known for his protectionist views on trade and his support for sound money policies.
In 1896, McKinley ran for the presidency and won, defeating Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan. As president, he implemented protective tariffs to boost domestic industry, supported the gold standard, and oversaw the expansion of the United States as a colonial power.
McKinley's presidency also marked the start of the Progressive Era, with reforms such as the establishment of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the prohibition of government employees from accepting campaign contributions. He was known for his calm and patient demeanor and was well-liked by the American people.
In September 1901, just six months into his second term, McKinley was shot twice by an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz during a public reception in Buffalo, New York. He died from his wounds eight days later, on September 14, 1901. McKinley's vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, succeeded him as president.