On This Day: September 14th - Mckinley Assasinated By Gunshot

On September 14th, 1901 United States President William McKinley died of an infection caused by a gunshot wounded inflicted on him by a crazed man named Leon Frank Czolgosz. McKinley was attending the Pan-American Exposition in New York City when he was shot. McKinley was elected to the Congress when he was 34 years old and served 14 years in the House. After spending 14 years in the House of Representatives, McKinley became the Governor of Ohio where he quickly became a popular Republican because of his support of big business. He gained support from industrialists such as Mark Hanna. With the support of these industrialists financially and his growing popularity among Republicans, McKinley earned himself the Republican nomination for president of the United States.

In 1896, McKinley beat Democrat William Jennings Bryan in a landslide victory. He became the 25th president of the United States. For his support of big business and tariffs, Mckinley also became very unpopular among many individuals and groups. One of these men named Leon Frank Czolgosz. Czolgosz had the view that many wealthy people became wealthy by exploiting the poor people in society and the their was injustice in America. He took his this frustration out on the person whom he thought propelled this ideology, McKinley. He would eventually assassinate McKinley which would result in his death. McKinley was the third president to be assassinated since Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and James Garfield in 1881. Why do you think this event is historically relevant?

"McKinley dies of infection from gunshot wounds." 2008. The History Channel website. 15 Sep 2008, 04:10 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=52855.