William McKinley U.S. President | Historical Figure Readers Theater Script

This William McKinley Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin travel through time to witness William McKinley’s rise from a small-town Ohio upbringing to the presidency during a period of industrial growth and shifting global influences.

Script Summary:

Abigail and Benjamin see how McKinley’s policies help stabilize the economy after a severe depression, how protective tariffs and the gold standard restore confidence, and how the Spanish-American War thrusts the U.S. into a new role as an imperial power. McKinley’s careful approach to foreign affairs is reflected in his message to Congress requesting a declaration of war against Spain in 1898, and his proclamation ending hostilities shows a preference for swift, decisive action with humanitarian motives. Victorious but facing debates over governance of newly acquired territories, McKinley navigates the nation toward global engagement. His assassination in 1901 cuts short his tenure, leaving Theodore Roosevelt to build on a legacy of economic prosperity, expanded American influence abroad, and a more active presidential role in directing national policy.

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~12 Characters, 1350 words, PDF & Editable DOCX Formats (8 pages)
• Includes factual historical information, primary source quotes, and narrative storytelling
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Comprehensive Script Worksheet

• Includes Answer Key, Google Slides & PDF Formats (4 Pages | 17 Slides)
• 10 Vocabulary Words: Definitions based on the context of the script to build historical literacy
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script, ensuring students can analyze the content without requiring additional research.
• Long-Format Writing Questions: Encourage deeper reflection and analysis, including one primary source exploration question.

3) Two Primary Source Letters

• Message to Congress Requesting a Declaration of War With Spain (April 11, 1898)
• Proclamation 422—Suspension of Hostilities with Spain (August 12, 1898)
• Full Primary Source Text, PDF & DOCX Formats (9 pages)

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For digital classrooms, upload the DOCX Script and convert to Google docs
• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about ~25 minutes and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, vocabulary or short answer comprehension questions should also be planned.

This resource is part of a bundle dedicated to the most notable 12 U.S. Presidents:

SAVE 50% and get the bundle here: U.S. Presidents Reader's Theater Scripts Bundle (12)