Original sentence: A Republican, McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War; he was the only one to start a war as an enlisted man, and ended as a brevet major.During his presidency, McKinley started the Spanish–American War, raised protective tariffs to boost American industry, and rejected the expansionary monetary policy of free silver, keeping the nation on the gold standard.His popularity was soon overshadowed by Roosevelt's.Historians regard McKinley's 1896 victory as a realigning election in which the political stalemate of the post-Civil War era gave way to the Republican-dominated Fourth Party System, beginning with the Progressive Era.McKinley hoped to persuade Spain to grant independence to rebellious Cuba without conflict, but when negotiation failed he started the Spanish-American War of 1898
Edited sentence: A Republican, McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War; he was the only one to have started the war as an enlisted man, and ended as a brevet major.During his presidency, McKinley led the nation to victory in the Spanish–American War, raised protective tariffs to promote American industry, and kept the nation on the gold standard in a rejection of the expansionary monetary policy of free silver.His highly positive public perception was soon overshadowed by that of Roosevelt.Historians regard McKinley's 1896 victory as a realigning election in which the political stalemate of the post-Civil War era gave way to the Republican-dominated Fourth Party System, which began with the Progressive Era.McKinley hoped to persuade Spain to grant independence to rebellious Cuba without conflict, but when negotiation failed he led the nation into the Spanish-American War of 1898