‘I intended to kill him … because I did not believe in presidents over us…’ the shooting of President McKinley: motives, means and the impact of assassination during The Long Nineteenth Century

The shooting of President William McKinley in 1901 by Leon Czolgosz was not an isolated incident but rather a prime example of the changing nature of political violence throughout The Long Nineteenth Century. Once primarily the domain of nobles or political elites seeking power, assassination had shifted to become a tool for ordinary individuals motivated by political ideology and social unrest. Figures like Czolgosz, who emerged from the working class, were driven by these new forces. This article explores the factors shaping Czolgosz’s motives, particularly his exposure to anarchist thought and his belief that McKinley’s policies harmed the working class. It also examines how the means of assassination, particularly pistols like Iver Johnson revolvers, were widely advertised and easily accessible for purchase. The impact of these events spurred contemporary debates on the personal protection of political leaders and the limitations of medical treatment, which, in some cases, proved as fatal as the attack itself. By situating the shooting of McKinley within broader historical trends, this article highlights how assassination evolved in both its motives and means, reflecting the era’s shifting social and political landscape.