Grover Cleveland was succeeded as U.S. President in 1897 by William McKinley. McKinley, a Republican, served as the 25th President of the United States from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. During his presidency, McKinley oversaw a period of economic prosperity and expansion, known as the Gilded Age. He advocated for protective tariffs to support American industry and led the country through the Spanish-American War, resulting in the acquisition of territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. McKinley's presidency was also marked by the passage of the Gold Standard Act, which established gold as the sole basis for the U.S. currency. This move helped stabilize the economy and restore confidence in the financial system. In addition to his economic policies, McKinley was known for his strong stance on foreign affairs, particularly in relation to the growing influence of European powers in the Americas. He supported the Monroe Doctrine, which aimed to prevent European intervention in the Western Hemisphere. McKinley's presidency came to a tragic end in 1901 when he was shot by an anarchist while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. He died eight days later, making him the third U.S. President to be assassinated. Despite his untimely death, McKinley's legacy lived on through his policies and the continued prosperity of the United States during the early 20th century. His Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt, succeeded him as President and continued many of McKinley's initiatives, including the conservation of natural resources and the regulation of big business. To learn more about William McKinley and his presidency, you can visit the official White House website at https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/william-mckinley/. McKinley's leadership and contributions to American history continue to be studied and appreciated by historians and political scholars to this day.

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