When you think of the turn of the century, you probably picture Theodore Roosevelt charging up San Juan Hill or the rough-and-tumble energy of the Progressive Era. But none of that happens without the man who actually held the wheel first. Honestly, William McKinley is often the "forgotten" president, tucked away between the Gilded Age and the modern era. People usually just remember he was assassinated, which is a shame.
So, what did William McKinley do during his time in the White House?
He didn't just sit there. He basically took a country that was isolationist and broke, and turned it into a global superpower with a gold-backed wallet. It wasn't all sunshine, though. His legacy is a messy mix of economic boomtimes and the start of American imperialism that still sparks heated debates today.
The Economic Architect: Gold and Tariffs
McKinley was a "money guy" through and through. Before he was even President, he was famous (or infamous, depending on who you asked) for the McKinley Tariff of 1890. This thing was massive. It raised duties on imports to nearly 50%. The idea was simple: protect American factories from foreign competition.
It worked, kinda. But it also made prices skyrocket for regular folks, which actually got him kicked out of Congress for a bit. Talk about a backfire.
Once he reached the presidency in 1897, he doubled down. He signed the Dingley Tariff Act, which pushed rates even higher. But the real kicker was the Gold Standard Act of 1900. Back then, everyone was arguing about whether money should be backed by silver or gold. McKinley went all-in on gold. This ended the "Free Silver" movement led by his rival, William Jennings Bryan, and gave the U.S. economy a stable foundation that lasted for decades.
The War That Changed Everything
If you really want to know what did William McKinley do to change the map, look at 1898.
The Spanish-American War was short. Like, "100 days" short. McKinley didn't actually want the war at first. He tried to play the diplomat, but after the USS Maine blew up in Havana Harbor, the public—and a very loud "yellow press"—demanded blood.
He eventually gave in.
By the time the smoke cleared, Spain was toast. The U.S. didn't just win; they collected territories like trading cards. We got:
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- The Philippines
He also oversaw the annexation of Hawaii that same year. Suddenly, the U.S. wasn't just a big country in North America; it was an empire with outposts across the Pacific. This was the birth of the "American Century," but it came with a heavy price—a brutal, years-long war in the Philippines that killed hundreds of thousands and left a permanent stain on his record.
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Creating the Modern Presidency
We think of the "bully pulpit" as a Teddy Roosevelt thing. But McKinley actually started the trend of a more "active" president.
He was the first to really use the media. He invited reporters into the White House for briefings, which was basically the prototype for the modern press conference. He also used the telephone and the telegraph to manage the war in real-time. Before him, presidents were mostly figureheads who let Congress run the show. McKinley changed the vibe. He made the executive branch the center of gravity in D.S.
The Tragic End in Buffalo
McKinley’s second term was barely six months old when he headed to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.
On September 6, 1901, he was shaking hands at the Temple of Music. He loved meeting the public—even though his advisors told him it was dangerous. An anarchist named Leon Czolgosz approached him with a gun hidden under a handkerchief. He shot McKinley twice at point-blank range.
The medical side of this is wild. There was a primitive X-ray machine at the fair, but the doctors didn't use it. They couldn't find the bullet. They stitched him up, and for a few days, everyone thought he was going to make it. Then, gangrene set in. He died on September 14, whispering the words of his favorite hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee."
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think McKinley was just a puppet for his wealthy donor, Mark Hanna. History books used to paint him as a weakling who got pushed around.
That’s mostly nonsense.
Modern historians, like those at the Miller Center, now see him as a very savvy, calculated leader who knew exactly what he was doing. He used Hanna to handle the "dirty" politics while he stayed "above the fray" on his front porch in Ohio. He was a master of public image.
Actionable Takeaways for History Buffs
If you're looking to understand the real impact of the McKinley years, here is what you should do next:
- Look at the Philippines: To understand modern U.S. foreign policy, read about the Philippine-American War (1899–1902). It’s the direct result of McKinley’s expansionism and sets the stage for everything from Vietnam to Iraq.
- Trace the Gold Standard: Research the "Cross of Gold" speech by William Jennings Bryan. It helps you understand why McKinley’s 1900 Act was such a massive political win for the banking and business classes.
- Visit the Sites: If you're ever in Canton, Ohio, the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum is actually quite impressive. It gives you a much better feel for his personal life and his devotion to his wife, Ida, who struggled with epilepsy and whom he cared for deeply.
McKinley didn't just "happen" to be president when things changed. He was the one who pulled the trigger on the American Empire. Whether you think that was a good thing or a disaster, you can't deny that the world looked very different the day he died than it did the day he was sworn in.