William McKinley (1843–1901) was the 25th President of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. A Republican, he led the nation through the Spanish-American War and pursued pro-business economic policies including protective tariffs and the gold standard.
McKinley’s presidency marked the United States’ emergence as an international power after victory in the Spanish-American War and the acquisition of overseas territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and the annexation of Hawaii. Domestically, he promoted economic stability through the Dingley Tariff and the Gold Standard Act, aligning the federal government with business and industrial interests.
His administration accelerated American overseas expansion, a legacy that generated lasting debate over imperialism and national identity. McKinley’s assassination in 1901 brought Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency and helped usher in a more activist, progressive phase of American governance.
Led the U.S. in the Spanish-American War (1898) and negotiated the Treaty of Paris;Annexed Hawaii and oversaw acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines;Enacted the Dingley Tariff to raise protective tariffs (1897);Signed the Gold Standard Act (1900) to stabilize currency;Articulated the Open Door Policy promoting equal trade access in China;Assassinated in 1901, succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
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Spanish forces in Santiago de Cuba formally surrendered to U.S. Army commanders on July 17, 1898 after the siege of the city.
On July 7, 1898 Congress passed and President McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, formally annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States.
The U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish Caribbean squadron under Admiral Pascual Cervera off Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898.
On July 1, 1898 U.S. forces assaulted and captured the fortified village of El Caney northeast of Santiago de Cuba after intense combat.
U.S. Army and Rough Rider forces seized San Juan Hill near Santiago de Cuba after heavy fighting on July 1, 1898.
On June 30, 1898, U.S. naval vessels engaged and routed a Spanish coastal flotilla at Manzanillo Bay, destroying or driving off several enemy craft.
American forces advancing toward Santiago engaged Spanish troops at Las Guasimas in a sharp skirmish that inflicted casualties on both sides and drove the Spanish toward their defensive lines.
On June 22, 1898, Maj. Gen. William R. Shafter's expeditionary force made amphibious landings at Daiquirí and Siboney east of Santiago de Cuba to establish a beachhead for operations against Spanish forces.
On June 20, 1898, the USS Charleston arrived at Guam and the American landing party took formal possession of the island from a small Spanish garrison with no fighting.
The U.S. Fifth Army Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. William R. Shafter, embarked from Tampa, Florida, bound for Cuba to carry out operations against Santiago de Cuba.
On June 12, 1898, Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines from Spain at Cavite and raised the Philippine flag, issuing the Philippine Declaration of Independence.
A U.S. naval force landed Marines at Guantánamo Bay on Cuba’s southeastern coast and seized a beachhead to establish a coaling and repair base.