美国总统24 威廉·麦金莱.docx

《美国总统24 威廉·麦金莱.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《美国总统24 威廉·麦金莱.docx（5页珍藏版）》请在第壹文秘上搜索。

1、美国总统24威廉麦金莱WilliamMcKinley:ImperialByKellyJeanKelly13August,2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmericasPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutWilliamMcKinley.Hetookofficein1897andwasre-electedin1900.HeledtheUnitedStatesintothe20thcentury.WilliamMcKinleyOnewaytothinkofMcKinleyisasatransitionpresident.Inthe1800s

2、zlawmakersweremostlyconcernedwithhowthecountrywasgrowinginNorthAmerica.ButduringMcKinleysgovernment,theU.S.lookedbeyonditsborders.CongressdeclaredwaronSpain,thefirsttimetheU.S.hadfoughtaEuropeanpowersincetheWarof1812againstBritain.TheU.S.alsotookcontrolofoverseasterritories,annexedHawaii,andtriedtor

3、egulatetheworldstradewithChina.SomehistorianssayPresidentMcKinleyhimselfwantedtheU.S.toincreaseitsinternationalinfluence.Othersarguethathewasjustansweringthecountrysmoodatthetime.Eitherway,hispresidencyisoftendefinedbythecountrysriseasanimperialpower.EarlylifeMcKinleywasthesixthpresidenttocomefromth

4、estateofOhio.Hewastheseventhofeightchildren.Historiansdescribehischildhoodaslovingandfun.Hisfatherownedasmallironfactory.Hismotherraisedherchildrentobehonestandpolite.McKinleywasahard-workingstudent.HebrieflyattendedAlleghenyCollegeinPennsylvania,buthedidnothavethemoneytofinishhiseducationthere.Afew

5、yearsafterleavingthatschool,hevolunteeredfortheArmyonthesideoftheUnionintheCivilWar.HeservedunderamanwhowouldlaterbecomepresidenthimselfzRutherfordB.Hayes.Thetwostayedclosethroughouttheirlives.Afterthewarended,McKinleystudiedIawzbecameinvolvedinRepublicanPartypolitics,married,andhadtwodaughters.Hisw

6、ife,Ida,wasanenergetic,well-educatedyoungwomanfromawealthyfamily.Forawhile,shehadworkedinherfathersbank.ButIdaMcKinleyshealthbegantosuffer.Shewasstruckbyseizures.Thenhermotherdied.Afewmonthslater,heryoungerdaughterdiedwhilestillaninfant.IdaMcKinleyclungtoherolderdaughter,butthelittlegirlsoondevelope

7、dafeverdisease,andshedied,too.WilliamandIdaMcKinleywereneverthesame.IdaMcKinleyremainedsickherentirelife.Shespentmostofherhoursinasmallrockingchairsewing.WilliamMcKinleypaidgreatattentiontoher.Heorganizedhisscheduletospendtimenearher,evenashispoliticalsuccessgrew.Intime,McKinleyservedinCongressandas

8、thegovernorofOhio.Hewasknownasalikablepersonandaskilledpolitician.HisRepublicanPartynominatedhimonthefirstballotattheirconvention.Afewmonthslater,voterselectedMcKinleyintoofficeinalandslide.Hebecamethecountrys25thpresident.PresidencyWhenMcKinleytookoffice,theU.S.wasjustcomingoutofasevereeconomicdepr

9、ession.Hisgovernmentquicklyapprovedahighprotectivetarifftohelpstrugglingworkers.Ingeneral,hisadministrationalsopermittedthegrowthofbigbusiness.ButmostofMcKinleysattentionaspresidentwasdevotedtoforeignpolicy.ThemainissuewasCuba.Atthattime,Spaincontrolledtheisland.Cubansrevolted,andSpanishforcesusedvi

10、olenceanddetainmentstocrushtherebellion.IntheU.S.,manyAmericansdenouncedtheeventsinCuba.TheywantedMcKinleyandhisgovernmenttointervene.Atfirst,PresidentMcKinleywasunwilling.Hetriedtousediplomacy.HeevenorderedaU.S.shipintoSpanishwatersnearHavanatoshowhiscontinuedsupportofSpain.Buttheship,calledtheMain

11、e,exploded.AmericansbelievedtheSpanishwereresponsible.Relationsbetweenthetwocountriesworsenedfast.Spaindeclaredwar.TheU.S.Congressansweredinkind.For100days,U.S.andSpanishforcesfoughtinCubaandotherareasunderSpanishcontrol.ThewarquicklyturnedintheAmericansfavor.WhentheSpanish-AmericanWarendedwiththeTr

12、eatyofParisin1898,theU.S.tookcontrolofPuertoRicozGuam,andthePhilippinesfromSpain.Cubawasmadeindependent;however,theU.S.continuedtooccupytheislandforseveralmoreyears.NoteveryoneapprovedoftheactionsofMcKinleysgovernment.EvensomemembersofCongresswarnedagainsttheU.S.becominganimperialpower.Butamajorityo

13、fvotersapprovedofMcKinleyasavictoriouscommander-in-chief.TheyalsonotedthattheU.S.economywasgettingstronger.In1900zMcKinleywonre-election.AssassinationAsitturnedout,McKinleyssecondterminofficewasshort.InSeptember,onlysixmonthsafterhisswearing-in,thepresidentwasreceivingvisitorsatafairinthecityofBuffa

14、lo,NewYork.Oneofthevisitorsinlinewasa28-year-oldmannamedLeonCzolgosz.HisfamilywasfromPoland,buthelivedinthecityofDetroit,Michigan.Hehadworkedinafactory,butatthetimewasunemployed.Hesupportedtheideaofanarchy-nogovernmentatall.WhenMcKinleyreachedtoshaketheyoungmanshand,Czolgoszshotthepresidenttwiceinth

15、estomach.Althoughinjured,McKinleyspoketohisguards.Hetoldthemnottohurttheshooter.And,heexpressedconcernabouthowhiswifewouldfeelwhenshelearnedhehadbeenshot.QuicklyzMcKinleywastakentoahospital.Doctorspredictedthathewouldsurvive.And,forafewdayszMcKinleyseemedtoimprove.Butthewoundbecameinfected,andeightd

16、aysaftertheattackMcKinleydied.Thepresidentsmurdererdidnotsayhewassorryforhisact.Hedefendedit,sayingMcKinleywasanenemyofworkingpeople.Withinafewweeksoftheshooting,Czolgoszwastried,foundguilty,andexecuted.1.egacyBoththenationandtheworldmournedwhenMcKinleydied.Hehadbeenoneofthecountrysmostpopularpresidentsinmanyyears.HeleftbehindthebeginningofwhatsomecalledanAmericanempire.Healsomarkeda