William McKinley- Events

William McKinley- Events

March 4, 1897- William McKinley is inaugurated as the twenty-fifth President of the United States. McKinley asserts: "The country is suffering from industrial disturbances from which speedy relief must be had. Our financial system needs some revision; our money is all good now, but its value must not further be threatened."

March 15, 1897- President McKinley calls Congress into a special session for the purpose of revising the tariff laws.

April 19, 1897- John J. McDermott wins the first Boston Marathon. The 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square will become one of the world's most prestigious marathons.

May 24, 1897- Congress appropriates $50,000 for the relief of Americans in Cuba.

July 14, 1897- The first shipment of gold discovered in Alaska, totaling $750,000, arrives in San Francisco.

July 24, 1897- President McKinley signs the Dingley Tariff Law, which raises custom duties by an average of 57 percent. Although American industries no longer needed such heavy protection against foreign goods, the tariff was raised nonetheless; imported woolen products, for example, faced a 91 percent rate. Republicans associate the high tariff with national prosperity while Democrats and progressives will blame the tariff for causing subsequent price increases.

September 10, 1897- More than twenty workers are killed in Lattimer, Pennsylvania, after deputy sheriffs open fire on striking coal miners. In sympathy, coal miners in the Ohio, West Virginia, and the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania walk off their jobs. The strike is settled soon thereafter, with Pennsylvania workers being awarded an eight-hour day.

December 6, 1897- President McKinley's first annual message to Congress is read aloud. The President states that while the government of Spain should be given time to reform its behavior in Cuba, America would continue to devote significant diplomatic attention to the island. McKinley also reminds Americans to refrain from factionalism: "Questions of foreign policy, of revenue, the soundness of the currency, the inviolability of national obligations, the improvement of the public service, appeal to the individual conscience of every earnest citizen to whatever party he belongs or in whatever section of the country he may reside."

January 12, 1898- In Havana, Cuba, pro-Spanish groups riot in opposition to Cuban autonomy.

January 25, 1898- The U.S. Battleship Maine arrives in Havana on a nominally "friendly visit." Its true mission is to protect American life and property.

February 9, 1898- A letter written by Spanish minister to the United States Enrique deLÙme, containing insults directed at President McKinley, is published in William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal.

February 15, 1898- The battleship Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor, killing 266 Americans. Subsequent press coverage of the event points to Spanish sabotage as the cause of the disaster, despite dubious evidence. The sinking of the Maine fans popular opinion, already sympathetic to the cause of Cuban independence, in support of American intervention.

March 9, 1898- At President McKinley's behest, Congress votes a $50 million appropriation for national defense.

March 17, 1898- The U.S. Navy reports that the Maine explosion was the result of external factors.

March 22, 1898- The Spanish Navy releases its own report on the Maine disaster, concluding that an internal explosion destroyed the battleship.

April 11, 1898- President McKinley asks Congress for authority to "use armed force" in Cuba to end the civil war. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Sagasta makes a last-minute peace concession by offering the Cubans limited autonomy.

April 19, 1898- Congress adopts a joint resolution authorizing President McKinley to intervene in Cuba. The resolution also states that the United States has no plans to annex Cuba. Spain counters by severing diplomatic relations with the United States.

April 21, 1898- President McKinley orders a blockade of northern Cuban ports.

April 22, 1898- Congress passes the Volunteer Army Act, which authorizes the organization of the First Volunteer Cavalry, or Rough Riders, under the command of Colonel Leonard Wood and Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. That same day, the U.S. captures its first spoils of war, the Spanish ship Buena Ventura.

April 23, 1898- President McKinley calls for 125,000 volunteers to fight the war with Spain.

April 23, 1898- Spain declares war on the United States.

April 25, 1898- The United States Congress declares war on Spain.

May 1, 1898- Commodore George Dewey, commanding an American squadron of six ships, soundly defeats a larger but outgunned Spanish fleet at Manila Bay. This action opens the door for American occupation of Manila in August.

May 25, 1898- President McKinley issues a new call for volunteers, asking for an additional 75,000. A U.S. troop expedition of 2,500 men also sets sail for Manila, Philippines, from San Francisco, California.

June 1, 1898- Congress passes the Erdman Arbitration Act, which authorizes government mediation between interstate carriers and their employees. The legislation prohibits interstate carriers from discriminating against or blacklisting union laborers. The Supreme Court would rule the Erdman Act unconstitutional in June 1908.

June 10, 1898- Roughly 600 U.S. Marines land at Guant•namo, Cuba.

June 10, 1898- Congress passes the War Revenue Act, which generated about $150 million of tax revenue a year from taxes levied on beer, tobacco, amusements, and some business transactions. President McKinley signs the bill on June 13.

June 12-14, 1898- Some 17,000 U.S. troops under the command of General William Shafter embark from Key West, Florida, headed for Cuba.

June 21, 1898- Guam, whose Spanish commander was oblivious to the outbreak of the war, surrenders to advancing western Pacific fleets. The ignorance of the Spanish garrison becomes apparent to the captain of the U.S.S. Charleston when, following his bombardment of Guam, the Spanish apologize for not having returned the salute.

June 24, 1898- The United States defeats Spanish troops at the Battle of Las Guasimas, the first major land battle of the Spanish-American War.

July 1, 1898- After heavy fighting, American forces in Cuba take the Spanish garrisons at El Caney and San Juan Hill.

July 3, 1898- American naval forces destroy the Spanish fleet off Santiago de Cuba.

July 7, 1898- President McKinley signs a joint congressional resolution providing for the annexation of Hawaii.

July 17, 1898- Santiago de Cuba surrenders, along with 24,000 Spanish troops, to American General William Shafter.

...