What life looked like under Trump's tariff hero, US President William McKinley
President Trump has frequently cited 19th-century President William McKinley as the inspiration for his protectionist tariff policies. Historical analysis suggests that McKinley's 1890 tariff act caused significant economic and political backlash, raising questions about the long-term impact of current trade strategies.
Why it matters
Understanding the historical context of protectionism provides a lens through which to evaluate the potential economic consequences of modern trade wars.
The turn of the century saw a rise in labor movements as industry grew largely unregulated. Bettmann/Getty Images Trump has credited a 19th-century US president for inspiring his aggressive approach to tariffs. As a representative, William McKinley authored the most protectionist tariff act in US history. Trump's sweeping tariffs have faced legal challenges, but he enacted dozens of new tariffs this week. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs have become a defining feature of his second term, central to his strategy for reshaping global trade, even after the Supreme Court struck down many of his tariffs in February. Aggressive tariff policies have been rare at the White House in recent decades, but history offers clues about how they can ripple through everyday American life .
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