Your link was unhelpful for obvious reasons. One of these days perhaps, perhaps wishful thinking, you're going to pose your assertions as a question, as I've done below. History & context, ARE important, wouldn't you agree?
The short answer is that is was1890fuckingeight and industrialization and world trade was not comparable to, yes, 20fuckingfive.
Anyway I learned something from subjecting your assertion to questioning.
McKinley's tariffs worked great.....Problem was Roosevelt kept them on when McKinley was ready to tone them down and start trade agreements.......true or false?
The statement that "McKinley's tariffs worked great... Problem was Roosevelt kept them on when McKinley was ready to tone them down and start trade agreements" is only partially accurate, and needs clarification based on the historical record.
McKinley's Tariff Policy and Its Evolution
The McKinley Tariff of 1890 dramatically raised average tariff rates to nearly 50%, aiming to protect American industries from foreign competition. While this did benefit certain manufacturing sectors, it also led to higher prices for consumers and farmers, and sparked retaliatory tariffs abroad, harming American agricultural exports.
By the end of his presidency, McKinley himself began to reconsider the wisdom of high tariffs. In his final speech (Buffalo, 1901), he advocated for more reciprocal trade agreements and a less rigidly protectionist stance, signaling a desire to "tone down" tariffs and promote more harmonious trade relations. This shift came after he witnessed some negative consequences of protectionism, such as higher consumer prices and international backlash.
Roosevelt's Approach to Tariffs
Theodore Roosevelt, McKinley’s immediate successor, did not immediately or dramatically lower tariffs. He largely maintained the protectionist policies of his Republican predecessors, favoring the creation of a tariff commission to ensure fair rates, but not pursuing major reductions himself.
Roosevelt was open to reform and wanted a more scientific, less political approach to tariffs, but he did not enact broad tariff reductions or aggressively pursue trade agreements during his presidency.
The real move toward lowering tariffs and expanding trade agreements came later, under President Woodrow Wilson with the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913, and much more so under Franklin D. Roosevelt with the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934.
Summary Table
President Tariff Policy Direction Trade Agreements?
William McKinley High tariffs, late move toward reciprocity Initiated some reciprocal treaties, signaled openness to more at end of presidency
Theodore Roosevelt Maintained high tariffs, favored commission reform No major reduction, limited trade agreement activity
Woodrow Wilson Major tariff reduction (Underwood Act) Yes, began shift to lower tariffs and more trade agreements
Franklin D. Roosevelt Dramatic tariff reduction (RTAA) Yes, ushered in era of reciprocal trade agreements
Conclusion
It is true that McKinley began to reconsider high tariffs and signaled a willingness to pursue more reciprocal trade agreements late in his presidency.
It is also true that Theodore Roosevelt did not immediately lower tariffs or aggressively pursue trade agreements, largely maintaining the status quo.
However, the idea that Roosevelt "kept them on when McKinley was ready to tone them down" oversimplifies the situation. McKinley’s shift was late and not fully realized in policy before his assassination, and Roosevelt’s approach was more about reforming how tariffs were set rather than simply maintaining or lowering them.
Verdict: The statement is partially true—Roosevelt did not move quickly to lower tariffs despite McKinley’s late openness to trade agreements, but McKinley’s own policy shift was just beginning and not fully implemented at the time of his death. Major tariff reduction and reciprocal trade agreements came later, under Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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