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Ulysses S. Grant Born: April 27, 1822 Died: July 23, 1885 Republican Term: 1869-1877 Schuyler Colfax (1869-1873) and Henry Wilson (1873-1875) Thematic Context: Citizenship was granted for Negroes during Lincoln’s presidency and Johnson didn’t help further the need for black rights after Lincoln was assassinated, so with Grant the steps to take could only go forward for advances in citizenship. Still, Americans did not accept civil rights or political rights for blacks in the North and South, because discrimination was still high and will remain so for a century. So Grant did what he could to protect Negro rights and worked on the policies of congressional Reconstruction. He had two developments to help with this; military and legislation action. With legislation he signed for the ratification for the 15th Amendment which would allow male Negroes to vote. Another legislative example of development was the Ku Klux Klan Act to counter terrorist activities that would keep Negroes away from the polls. He used military action to set up nine counties that had federal troops restore law and order in South Carolina. He wouldn’t always intervene with military action so the lack of federal troops down in other southern states would more of a non-development. It wasn’t just Negroes that had the two developments to progress citizenship during this time. Native Americans had some spot in Grant’s eye for a while. He wanted to have Native Americans move closer to white civilization with the legislation the Peace Policy and his ultimate goal was to have them acquire citizenship. With the military, he ordered a military aide and appointed an Indian in a major federal position. Sadly, the actions Grant did for the Native Americans did not stand for long and progress was rigid. Citizenship during the Grant administration was at its peak with getting problems solved, but still the Americans were not fully over racial differences so advancing to a better day for minorities were not successful with legislation action or military action. Thesis: President Grant’s presidency is confusing, because of the scale of the good things he sought out to do and the treachery that happened around him. His most proud achievements for the country are signing the 15th Amendment and the Ku Klux Klan Act which would allow male Negroes the right to vote and would protect them from attacks which would prevent them from doing so. He strengthened America’s relationship with Great Britain after a predicament that could have ended badly. This balanced with his failures such as the scandals in office around him and the fiscal policy which would lead into the Panic of 1873. Domestically he helped move towards a better future for Negroes and at least tried the same with Native Americans, but in terms of the economy he did not succeed in anything. In foreign affairs he would get involved to progress, but they mostly failed and the only good outcome was strengthening ties with Great Britain. He deserves a lot of respect for his efforts, but ultimately gets a B- for the overall state of the country. Goals: His attitude towards what he will try to do for the country in his first inaugural address shows that he wants to help all men become equal and destroy prejudice. It would be very hard for a man to shut prejudice right after a rebellion, but he still accomplished the goal in a way. He passed the 15th Amendment, but still discrimination was very high and the effect of it wasn’t as great as it should have been. He set out to solve the economic crisis and did not accomplish this at all, because of the Panic of 1873 that happened. He wanted to increase relationships with foreign nations and lead the Native American’s into a better life and eventual citizenship; he tried hard and only accomplished strengthening the relationship with Great Britain. America was divided still in essence until his second presidency reign and he noted then to insure peace and unite the nation and restore harmony. Generalizing a public’s opinion and emotion is hard, but sadly it is easy to say that these goals were not accomplished. He acknowledged the failed action of annexing Santo Domingo in his second address probably planning to bring it up again to congress since he mentioned the people there wanted to be annexed. He brings up all the big ideas of technology and transportation and laid the ground rule for progress, but the president can only do so much. Relationship with Congress: Grant’s relationship with Congress was shaky as vetoes happened and Congress no doubt got mad at the Grant administration with the scandals. The vicissitudes of their relationship started with Congress passing the Enforcements Acts and Grant would sign on them as well, so the compatibility seemed alright. With the Panic of 1873 happening a solution from Congress was a bill that was an inflation bill and would put more greenbacks into circulation, but Grant vetoed it and Congress never forgave him. Grant would get angry at Congress too for not passing a bill to get Santo Domingo annexed. At least the Treaty of Washington was passed to get Great Britain and Americans on the same page after much war. Accomplishments: Grant was an active man who sought out to do a lot for the country, but didn’t get all accomplished. For instance, he wanted to get Santo Domingo annexed for multiple reasons like pleasing the U.S. Navy for a base and to decrease discrimination in the south. Alas, it did not get passed, but this can’t be seen as a failure since its effects were not totally negative. Accomplishments that had positive effects was the 15th Amendment which would allow male Negroes the right to vote and that is obviously important, but it had trouble enacting it because of the discrimination in the South and the attacks from the Ku Klux Klan. So Grant had military action take place to ensure equality and equal opportunity in South Carolina to help blacks get to the voting booths and attempt to end the Ku Klux Klan terrorist actions. There were other states that needed this type of action as well, but it never came. A foreign accomplishment was finally getting peace with Britain. During the Civil War, Great Britain was a nuisance to the North supplying tools for the South and building warships. In what could have ended badly, the Treaty of Washington was signed to have Britain pay 15.5 million dollars to America. Failures: In what could have been an accomplishment, getting citizenship and equal rights to Native American’s, the negative effects were too great. Discrimination was still there, but Native American’s kept on moving to the west and not gaining any real help that would last long. Another failure was fully bringing America together after the Civil War, Reconstruction was working for a while but faded and with it the virtues the North should have kept to bring justice to the newly freed slaves. His biggest failure was the fiscal policy in which Jay Gould and James Fisk created a plan to gain money by the inaction of the government, in the end there was crash in the price of gold and financial ruin for many investors. Another big mistake was the scandals that went on in his administration. No one could foresee these occurrences, but he did have poor enough judgment in character and these scandals might have been prevented. Impact: One of the decisions made by Grant that would impact future generations of presidents was his die hard will to encourage racial equality and get Negroes the vote. Out of all the presidents he tried the hardest to grant them the access to vote. He even resorted to military action, because of the dishonorable people in the South that would keep blacks from the polls. He is very admirable for his efforts and remained civil. These impacted future generations, because of the moral compass of Grant will show throughout future presidents to better the country. Throughout all the hardships, Grant was still a great man. Conclusion: The country morale remained the same in spirit of sectional discrimination and black discrimination, but on paper advancements were being made. Grant would try long and hard to get things done to improve the well being of American’s and foreign people who would want to come to America. He gets a B-, because of what he actually gets done and for the scandals and the fiscal policy. His veto of the inflation bill was viewed as a wrong choice and it might have been. In conclusion, the country was better off than when it started, but it could have been a lot better. Bibliography: "Miller Center." //American President: Ulysses S. Grant: Domestic Affairs//. MillerCenterUniversity of Virginia, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.

"Miller Center." //American President: Ulysses S. Grant: Foreign Affairs//. MillerCenterUniversity of Virginia, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.

"Miller Center." //American President: Ulysses S. Grant: Impact and Legacy//. MillerCenterUniversity of Virginia, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.