=The Leading Facts.= _1._ William McKinley was born in Ohio. _2._
He went to college at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and afterwards
taught school. _3._ Enlisted as a private in 1861 and won praise
and promotion for bravery in fighting for the Union. _4._ After the
war he studied law and opened an office in Canton, Ohio. _5._ Was
a good speaker and was sent to Congress at Washington for seven
terms. _6._ Twice governor of Ohio, he was elected president of
the United States in 1896. _7._ The Cubans had revolted many times
against Spanish oppression and now rose again. _8._ The Americans
sympathized with the suffering Cubans; Congress voted fifty
thousand dollars for relief work. _9._ The United States battleship
_Maine_ blown up in Havana Harbor. _10._ Spain declared war against
the United States. _11._ Admiral George Dewey destroyed the Spanish
fleet at Manila in the Philippine Islands. _12._ American forces,
among them the Rough Riders, attacked the Spanish in Cuba. _13._
American fleet destroyed the Spanish fleet at Santiago. _14._ Peace
proposals came from Spain and the treaty of peace was signed in
December, 1898. _15._ The United States bought the Philippines
from Spain, the Hawaiian Islands were annexed, and Cuba became
a republic. _16._ Guam and Porto Rico also became American
possessions. _17._ Conditions in former Spanish possessions greatly
improved. _18._ McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist while
he was the guest of the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, in
September, 1901 and died soon after.
=Study Questions.= _1._ Describe McKinley's boyhood surroundings
and what he liked to do. _2._ What made him fall ill? _3._ How did
he answer Lincoln's call for troops? _4._ What effect did army life
have on his health? _5._ What did he do after the war? _6._ To
what public office was he elected? _7._ Why did the Cubans revolt
against Spain? _8._ How did the Spaniards attempt to crush the
revolt? _9._ What did the Americans do to relieve the suffering
of the Cubans? _10._ What did they want to do? _11._ How did the
sinking of the Maine affect Americans? _12._ What did the United
States demand of Spain? _13._ Describe Dewey's action at Manila.
_14._ What state led in the number of volunteers? _15._ What were
the "Rough Riders"? _16._ What happened at Santiago? _17._ What
finally brought peace proposals from Spain? _18._ Why had the war
been fought? _19._ What did the Americans do in the Philippines?
_20._ What other islands came into American possession? _21._
What happened in Cuba? _22._ When and in what city was President
McKinley assassinated?
=Suggested Readings.= Stratemeyer, _American Boy's Life of William
McKinley_; Morris, _The War with Spain_, 150-169, 180-214, 267-285;
Barrett, _Admiral George Dewey_, 55-152, 230-251; Ross, _Heroes of
Our War with Spain_.