Download Presidency Chart – William McKinley (25th) (1897

Presidency Chart: William McKinley (25th) 1897-1901
The Election of 1896:
Nominees: Wm. McKinley (GOP)
Wm. Jennings Bryan (Democrat/Populist)
The 1896 campaign is often considered to be a realigning election. Why? Republicans gain back control of House,
Senate and Presidency for about twenty years.
McKinley forged a coalition in which businessmen, professionals, skilled factory workers and prosperous farmers
were heavily represented
- he was strongest in the Northeast and industrial Midwestern states
Bryan was the nominee of the Democrats, the Populist Party, and the Silver Republicans
o He was strongest in the South, rural Midwest, and Rocky Mountain states
Issue= bimetallism, the gold standard, Free Silver, and the tariff
Mark Hanna invented many modern campaign techniques in this election.
McKinley had a “front porch” campaign where the media came to him.
Bryan had a “whistle stop stump” campaign in a “get out the vote” mentality.
Bryan was a great orator and gave the infamous “Cross of Gold Speech” in 1896.
The election of 1896 still to this day has the highest voter turnout.
This is the “Wizard of Oz” Election.
The Election of 1900:
Nominees: Wm. McKinley (GOP)
Wm. Jennings Bryan (Democrat)
ISSUE= "Does the Constitution follow the flag?" (Insular cases)
a rematch of the 1896 race
The return of economic prosperity and recent victory in the Spanish-American War helped McKinley win
Democrats Issue = bring back silver; free silver (It was not as successful in 1900 because of the improved economy and
because gold was being inflated by new production from Alaska and South Africa)
GOP slogan = “Four More Years of the Full Dinner Pail”
Major Items during McKinley’s Presidency:
New Imperialism (Mahan, Lodge, Beveridge, Strong)
term used by Marxists
saw "imperialism" as the economic and political dominance of "monopolistic finance capital" in the most advanced
countries and its acquisition — and enforcement through the state — of control of the means (and hence the
returns) of production in less developed regions
Mahan- wrote a book saying we need to build up a bigger army in order to be on top
Spanish-American War (April – July, 1898)
a military conflict between Spain and the United States
peace= Treaty of Paris (December 1898)= gave the United States ownership of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and
Guam.
war began after the American demand of Spain peacefully resolving the Cuban fight for independence was
rejected--- strong expansionist sentiment in the United States may have motivated the govt. to target Spain's
remaining overseas territories: Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam and the Caroline Islands.
Riots in Havana by pro-Spanish "Voluntarios" gave the United States a reason to send in the warship USS Maine
to indicate high national interest. Tension among the American people was raised because of the explosion of the
USS Maine, and "yellow journalism" that accused Spain of extensive atrocities, agitating American public opinion.
Annexation of Hawaii (1898)
For most of the 1800s, leaders in Washington were concerned that Hawaii might become part of a European
nation's empire.
In 1842, Secretary of State Daniel Webster sent a letter to Hawaiian agents in Washington affirming U.S.
interests in Hawaii and opposing annexation by any other nation
He also proposed to Great Britain and France that no nation should seek special privileges or engage in further
colonization of the islands
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In 1849, the United States and Hawaii concluded a treaty of friendship that served as the basis of official
relations between the parties
Hawaii's economy became increasingly integrated with the United States. Hawaii was good for U.S. business, so
Republicans begin to want to annex it.
An 1875 trade reciprocity treaty further linked the two countries and U.S. sugar plantation owners from the
United States came to dominate the economy and politics of the islands (Dole)
Pres. Cleveland (Democrat) sympathized with the Hawaiians wanting to keep their independence. After he loses
election Pres. Harrison (GOP) pushes to annex and take it from their Queen Liliulakuani. After Harrison loses reelection bid Pres. Cleveland saves it for the Queen. Pres. McKinley (Republican) finishes Harrison’s job and
annexes Hawaii.
The Republican business owners wanted Hawaii to be part of the U.S. so they wouldn’t have to pay the high
tariffs on its goods.
Teller Amendment (1898)
Condition that the United States would use its military so that Cuba would gain its independence from Spain.
U.S. could not annex Cuba; had to technically leave "control of the island to its people”
o BUT U.S. will later manipulate it to make Cuba a “protectorate” country.
Platt Amendment (1901)
Amendment to Cuban Constitution that stipulated the conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops
remaining in Cuba since the Spanish-American War, and defined the terms of Cuban-U.S. relations until 1934
Ceded to the United States the naval base in Cuba (Guantánamo Bay), stipulated that Cuba would not transfer
Cuban land to any power other than the United States
Mandated that Cuba would contract no foreign debt without guarantees that the interest could be served from
ordinary revenues, ensured U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs when the United States deemed necessary
Prohibited Cuba from negotiating treaties with any country other than the United States "which will impair or to
impair the independence of Cuba" or "permit any foreign power or powers to obtain ... lodgement in or control
over any portion" of Cuba, and provided for a formal treaty detailing all the foregoing provisions
Repealed in 1934 (FDRoosevelt)
Filipino Insurrection/ Filipino-American War (1899-1902)
An armed military conflict between the United States of America and the First Philippine Republic
Arose from a Filipino political struggle against U.S. occupation of the Philippines
The conflict was officially declared over on July 4, 1902, American troops continued hostilities against remnants of
the Philippine Army and other resistance groups surrendered in 1913
RESULT= The Philippines becomes a U.S. territory
US casualties= 4,380 soldiers dead; 3,100+ wounded
Filipino casualties= 16,000 soldiers died; est. 250,000 to 1,000,000 civilians died of war (through combatants of
both sides), famine, or disease
Puerto Rico – Foraker Act (1900)
Established civilian (limited power) government on the island of Puerto Rico
The new government had:
1. a governor and an executive council appointed by the pres.
2. a House of Representatives w/ 35 elected members
3. a judicial system w/ a Supreme Court
4. a non-voting Resident Commissioner in Congress
5. the Executive Council was all appointed (5 individuals were selected from island residents while
the rest were from those in top cabinet positions, including attorney general and chief of police)---also appointed by the President
6. the Insular Supreme Court was also appointed
7. all federal laws of the United States were to be in effect on the island
Insular cases (1901)
The cases were in essence the court's response to a major issue of the United States presidential election, 1900
and the American Anti-Imperialist League
the Supreme Court said that full constitutional rights did not automatically extend to all areas under American
control
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Open Door Notes
a concept of opening doors for persons in foreign affairs stating that, in principle, all nations should have equal
commercial and industrial trade rights in China
Boxer Rebellion
a Chinese rebellion from November 1899 to September 7, 1901, against foreign influence in areas such as
trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final years of the Manchu rule (Qing
Dynasty)
The Boxers began as an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist peasant-based movement in northern China
They attacked foreigners who were building railroads and violating Feng shui, as well as Christians, who were
held responsible for the foreign domination of China
Gold Standard Act or Currency Act (1900)
established gold as the only standard for redeeming paper money
stopped bimetallism
REPUBLICANS= DEMOCRATS=
Progressive Era (1901-1919)
a period of reform which lasted from the 1890s through the 1920s
Progressives strongly opposed waste and corruption
they sought change in regard to worker's rights and protection of the ordinary citizen in general
Initially the movement was successful at local level, and then it progressed to state and gradually national
The reformers (and their opponents) were predominantly members of the middle class
Women came to the forefront in the Progressive era and proved their value as social workers
The Progressives pushed for social justice, general equality and public safety, but there were contradictions within
the movement, especially regarding race.
Almost all major politicians declared their adherence to some progressive measures
Significant changes 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th Amendment
Muckrakers= journalists who exposed waste, corruption, and scandal in the highly influential new medium of
national magazines
Progressives shared a common belief in the ability of science, technology and disinterested expertise to identify
all problems and come up with the one best solution.
Progressives moved to enable the citizenry to rule more directly and circumvent political bosses California and
Oregon established the Initiative, Referendum, and Recall
About 16 states began using primary elections
Many cities set up municipal reference bureaus to study the budgets and administrative structures of local
governments
Belief in mankind's ability to improve environment & conditions of life
Belief in obligation to intervene in economic and social affairs
Belief in ability of experts and in efficacy of government intervention
Favorable attitude toward urban-industrial society
McKinley’s Assassination (Sept., 1901)
Took place at the Temple of Music, in Buffalo, New York.
shot twice by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist
McKinley initially appeared to be recovering from his wounds, but took a turn for the worse six days after the
shooting
Theodore Roosevelt succeeded McKinley as President
After McKinley's murder Congress officially charge the United States Secret Service w/ the physical protection of
American presidents
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