President William McKinley

Benjamin Culbreth

‘‘A more serious turn of A more serious turn of mind’mind’

William McKinley learned hard work William McKinley learned hard work early, at 17 while attending Allegheny early, at 17 while attending Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania College in Meadville, Pennsylvania McKinley became sick and had to return McKinley became sick and had to return home to Poland, Ohio.home to Poland, Ohio.

Once he had recovered and was able to Once he had recovered and was able to return to school his parents could not return to school his parents could not afford to pay for his education.afford to pay for his education.

Early Work and Educaton

McKinley starting working at Poland’s post office as a clerk to earn money to return to college.

A teaching position soon opened in the Kerr school district, just three miles from his parents home, and McKinley was hired as a teacher.

War War William McKinley’s William McKinley’s

teaching career was teaching career was cut short by the cut short by the American Civil War.American Civil War.

Feeling strongly Feeling strongly about the about the preservation of the preservation of the Union and the Union and the abolition of slavery, he abolition of slavery, he joined the Union army joined the Union army with his cousin Will with his cousin Will Osburne.Osburne.

‘‘Sense of Duty’Sense of Duty’

In a letter to his sister Anna, William In a letter to his sister Anna, William said, “I volunteered to serve my said, “I volunteered to serve my country in this her perilous hour from country in this her perilous hour from a sense of duty.”a sense of duty.”

After training at Camp Jackson as a After training at Camp Jackson as a private in the 23private in the 23rdrd regiment of the regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Army McKinley saw Ohio Volunteer Army McKinley saw his first action on September 10, his first action on September 10, 1861.1861.

Baptism by Fire

At the Battle of Antietam McKinley, who at the time was a supply sergeant, delivered food “at breakneck speed, through a terrific fire of musketry and artillery.”

“A thing that never occurred under similar circumstances in any other army in the world” said Rutherford B. Hayes, of McKinley’s actions.

‘‘A Good Lawyer’A Good Lawyer’

Upon returning from the war McKinley Upon returning from the war McKinley wanted to do something with his life.wanted to do something with his life.

He earned a law degree at Albany Law He earned a law degree at Albany Law School in New York and later became a School in New York and later became a lawyer in Canton, Ohio.lawyer in Canton, Ohio.

““Major Wm. McKinley is a good lawyer, a Major Wm. McKinley is a good lawyer, a fine orator, and both in respect to ability fine orator, and both in respect to ability and character, commands the respect and and character, commands the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens” stated the esteem of his fellow citizens” stated the Canton Repository and Republican.Canton Repository and Republican.

The Political Realm

McKinley entered politics in 1867 campaigning for his old friend, Rutherford Hayes, who was running for governor of Ohio.

The next year he was chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Stark County Ohio.

First Time For Everything

• In 1869 McKinley ran for and won his first elected office, prosecutor of Stark County Ohio.

• McKinley pulled off an upset, a Republican winning in a Democratic county. He ran for the office again in 1871 but lost.

Big TimeBig Time

By 1876 McKinley By 1876 McKinley had decided to run had decided to run for Ohio’s 18for Ohio’s 18thth District District in Congress.in Congress.

William gave William gave powerful speeches powerful speeches and people came to and people came to trust him and he won trust him and he won the election.the election.

‘‘In violation..of fairness’In violation..of fairness’

In 1878 the Democratic Party in Ohio In 1878 the Democratic Party in Ohio realigned the districts to make it more realigned the districts to make it more difficult for McKinley to get reelected. difficult for McKinley to get reelected.

Despite the adversity he won the Despite the adversity he won the election.election.

In 1880, on his third term in the House, In 1880, on his third term in the House, McKinley was appointed to the House McKinley was appointed to the House Ways and Means Committee.Ways and Means Committee.

Setback

In 1882 after initially believing he had once again won his seat in Congress, the votes were recounted and John Wallace won McKinley’s seat.

He rebounded and won back his spot in the House in 1884.

No Enemies

William McKinley was known as the only man in Congress who had no enemies.

“Come now, let us put the personal element aside and consider the principle involved,” he was famed for saying.

“He had a rare tact as a manager of men,” Congressman Robert La Follette said of him.

Popular Man

At the 1888 Republican National Convention several in attendance tried to nominate McKinley for president.

In 1890 once again facing a a large Democratic district McKinley lost his seat in Congress after thirteen years.

Hello Governor

“I accept the nomination you have tendered me, sensible both of the honor and responsibility it implies,” McKinley said as he accepted the Republican nomination for the governorship of Ohio.

He won the election over Democrat James Campbell.

The Time Was Right

• By 1896 McKinley decided he had a good chance to win the presidency.

• He was nominated and ran against Democrat William Jennings Bryan.

• Northern political bosses offered their support in exchange for power.

• McKinley refused saying, “If I were to accept the nomination on those terms, the place would be worth nothing to me and less to the people.”

The Campaign TrailThe Campaign Trail

While Bryan ran around While Bryan ran around the country making the country making speeches McKinley let speeches McKinley let the people come to him.the people come to him.

““I might just as well put I might just as well put up a trapeze on my up a trapeze on my front lawn and compete front lawn and compete with some professional with some professional athlete as go out athlete as go out speaking against speaking against Bryan,” he said.Bryan,” he said.

‘‘McKinley and the Full Dinner McKinley and the Full Dinner Pail’Pail’

By the day of the election McKinley By the day of the election McKinley had spoken to 750,000 people from had spoken to 750,000 people from his front porch.his front porch.

The central issue of the 96’ election The central issue of the 96’ election was the currency standard.was the currency standard.

McKinley backed the gold standard McKinley backed the gold standard but did not press the issue; while but did not press the issue; while Bryan had his whole campaign Bryan had his whole campaign revolve around the support of silver revolve around the support of silver coinage.coinage.

‘‘President of the whole President of the whole people’people’• In 1900 McKinley once again In 1900 McKinley once again

defeated William Jennings Bryan, defeated William Jennings Bryan, even more so than the first time.even more so than the first time.

• On September 5, 1901 while at the On September 5, 1901 while at the Pan-American Exposition President Pan-American Exposition President William McKinley was shot by Leon William McKinley was shot by Leon Czolgoz.Czolgoz.

• He died eight days later surrounded He died eight days later surrounded by family and friends.by family and friends.

Works Cited• Edge, Laura B. William McKinley. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century

Books,      2007. Print.

• "William McKinley: Campaign Button." Heritage Auction Galleries. Heritage      Auctions Inc., 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2011. <http://historical.ha.com/common/      view_item.php?Sale_No=6032&Lot_No=47610>. (Picture slide 17)

• Wisconsin Electronic Reader. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.      <http://www.library.wisc.edu/etext/WIReader/Images/WER0002.html>. (Picture slide 13)

• Estabrook, Dan, et al. A Failed Compromise: The Spanish-American War and      America's Diplomatic Progression. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.n (Picture slide 4)

• "Campaign Poster." McKinley Birthplace Home & Research Center. McKinley Memorial      Library, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2011. <http://www.mckinley.lib.oh.us/      viewspage.cfm?pg=3&id=239>. (Picture slide 10)