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Ulysses Simpson Grant (Actually Hiram Ulysses Grant) Born on April 22, 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio Died on July 23, 1885 in Mount McGregor, New York Political Party: Republican Terms of Office: 1869—1873 and 1783—1877 Vice Presidents: Schuyler Coffax (from 1869—1873) and Henry Wilson (from 1873—1875, died in 1875) Theme: American Identity Rating C- When most think about Ulysses S. Grant, they imagine him as being a phenomenal Civil War hero for the Union. However, Grant made a lasting impression in terms of being a president simply because he was so different. Grant fits into the theme of American Identity because he did help shape America in various aspects. While some may disagree that he was a decent president, he tried to make amends in a variety of ways.

Grant’s colors really began to shine toward the American Identity when the Klu Klux Klan was at it’s peak. The KKK was tormenting African-Americans, trying to suppress them, so they could not vote. The 15th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right to vote and these racial terrorist groups were disturbing the peace. Grant, stepping up, took matters into his own hands. Grant suspended habeas corpus and had many people arrested in North Carolina. He signed into legislation the Force Acts, used to prosecute the KKK for their wrongdoing. The fact that he stood up for African-American rights proves that he was for the development of the Country. Yes, he was a little lazy at some points in his presidency, but this one event, and even having the 15th Amendment ratified during his administrations just goes to prove how much he was for equal rights. Equal rights surely adhere to the theme of American Identity. The development of the United States after the Civil War was slow, and the fact that Grant helped to move the development along proves how kind his character was.

Another major development during Grants administration would be Grant subtle advancements in foreign policy. During the Civil War, foreign policy was not a huge issue on the Unites States’ agenda. Grant then made it a priority to seek compensation for damages Britain inflicted during the Civil was, especially on the //Alabama.// He was successful in this venture, in which the Washington Treaty was conjured. Britain agreed to compensate the United States $15.5 million for its troubles. This fits into American Identity because Grant was seeking to make amends and further the United States’ foreign policy. American Identity is all about development. Sure, Grant was not the sharpest pencil in the drawer, but being a war hero, he was a strategist. This was evident during his motions to define America’s limits.

President Ulysses S. Grant was an unconventional president and can be remembered as such. President Grant deserves a rating of a C- due to his reputation to condone scandals, to be remembered as a “Panic” president, and to be radical in his Reconstruction Plans. However, he does not receive a lower grade due to the fact that the Washington Treaty was signed during his presidency, the 15th Amendment was ratified, he stood up for blacks, and was the president when the Transcontinental Railroad was completed.

As horrendous as Grant’s presidency was, it is hard to imagine that he actually had goals to attain to during his presidency. From his first inaugural address, he announces that he would like to bring the country back together, enforce laws more productively, and to not be prejudice. In all seriousness, Grant executed these goals substantially well. He did bring the country back together, or rather started sewing it back in stiches through Radical Reconstruction. He did a great job enforcing laws, specially once he found out about the various scandals. It may have been a delayed reaction on his part, but he did a fair job. Grant did a fantastic job not being prejudice. He stood up for blacks especially when the KKK was tormenting them. Continuing, Grant’s second inaugural address, he proclaimed that he wanted to give previous slaves/blacks equal rights and create opportunities for black men, but not be social equality on any level. By this, he meant that he wanted black //men// equal rights by not //social equality.// It would make sense that he fulfilled this goal, seeing at the 15th Amendment was ratified giving all men equal rights. All in all, Grant succeeded in his upmost and basic goals.

President Grant’s relation with Congress was that of a love and hate relationship. In which, Congress loved Grant because they could control him, and Grant, whom hated Congress because he couldn’t really do anything. Grant was Congress’ puppet in every aspect, especially of the Radical Republicans’. A prime example of Congress ignoring Grant would be when Grant recommended a repeal of the Tenure of Office Act. Grant is deemed ignorant of his country, yet, how could he accomplish anything if Congress wouldn’t respond to his acts? Moving forward, Grant did sign the Resumption of Specie Act in 1875. This act allowed the Treasury to accumulate enough, “Gold to be redeemed for all greenbacks tendered after January 1, 1879,” (DeGregorio 272). The Republican party dominated the majority in Congress until the election of 1874 when the Democrats actually became the majority. However, before the Democrats began to act on their motives, the Radical Republicans influenced Grant to move toward a Radical Reconstruction Plan. Once again, the puppet was stringed into enforcing a more Radical Reconstruction with the South, is directly correlates with the fact that more Democrats were voted into office. Another piece of legislation signed by Grant would be the bill regarding the “dismantling the Freedman’s Bureau” (DeGregorio 271). As much as Grant was for the equal rights of blacks, it’s amazing that he would destroy an organization that helped blacks with the transition from servitude to freedom. It can be concluded that Grant’s relationship with Congress would be abuses, for a lack of a better term.

Grant was not all a bad guy. In fact, during Grant’s Administration, a lot of important events happened that would glorify his presidency. First, would be the Treaty of Washington, which gave the United States $15.5 million from Britain for the damages they caused during the Civil War. Secondly, Grant helped blacks when they were being suppressed by the KKK, by passing legislation known as the Force Acts to prosecute the KKK members and establish a precedent that blacks (or rather black men) have the right to vote. From this, the 15th Amendment of the Constitution established, which gave every male citizen in the United States the rights to vote. Since Grant was a republican, he favored Hard Money, and therefore passed the Resumption of Specie Act in 1875. This act, favored and hated by many, established a rule that there must be enough gold to be able to compensated for greenbacks should someone would want to trade it in. The final and important outcome of the administration would be the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. This railroad connected the country when it needed it most. Post-Civil War was an awkward moment in time when no one really knew what to do. The railroad connected the United States, which helped trade, the economy, and increased the overall feeling of a United Country.

There are a few things that made Grant’s presidency a negative. There is one word usually associated with Grant, and that would be scandals. During Grants’ presidency many scandals proceeded with crimes and with some, Grant overlooked it. The one scandal involved his brother-in-law with Speculators Jay Gould and James Fisk who tried to corner the gold market. Grant even interceded his secretary Orville E. Babcock when he got involved in pocketing liquor tax money. The president was pardoning criminals and didn’t even think twice about it. The most scandalous event that Grant partook in would be the Belknap Bribery, where Grant’s Secretary of War W.W. Belknap was taking “annual kickbacks from traders at Indian Posts” (DeGregorio). Grant’s wife initially was receiving the payments, but when she died, Grant himself continued to take them….As the President! He almost got impeached because of it but resigned before the Senate could conjure a trial. Another negative outcome of Grant’s presidency would be the Panic of 1873. The panic of was caused by of course, over-speculation, a European depression (fall of the Vienna stock market), overextension of railroads, and the Great Chicago Fire. Three million people were unemployed and many businesses went under. Obviously the public was unhappy with a scandalous and depression-ized president. To them, they were beginning to wonder why they elected him. He wasn’t really doing anything right, he put millions out of jobs, and to top it all off, he put his friends (unintelligent at that) into cabinet. When it came to politics, Grant should have never gotten involved. He had no idea what he was doing, Congress manipulated him, and on top of that, he was scandalous.

There is definitely one decision made by Grant, or rather his administration that would impact future presidents. It would make sense that his sympathy for blacks and their suffrage would impact future presidents. Besides Lincoln, there really hasn’t been any president that took action for the blacks. Sure, many have talked about freeing them or granting equal rights, but Grant took the extra step to ensure somewhat equal opportunities. This can be observed through the 15th Amendment. Grant even tried to abolish the KKK, which proves he wasn’t just doing it for votes, but rather for the good of the Republic. If future presidents did not look back on Grant’s decisions, they would be fools, because he actually looked at America as a whole. Sure he was a scandal, but he was an impartial President, which is the best kind.

In conclusion, the country would have been better off without President Grant. Sure he helped the blacks, but other than that, he was good for nothing. He put the U.S. in a depression, he was a scandal and associated with scandals, and he was almost impeached. All presidents start off with an A, and their actions dictate their grade. Putting the country into a huge depression knocked his grade from an A to a B. Being scandalous and taking money knocked him from a B to a C. Almost being impeached knocked him down to a D. However, the 15th Amendment being ratified and the Transcontinental Railroad being completed, and even standing up for the blacks earned him a C-. Although Congress manipulated Grant, he did alright for someone who shouldn’t have been President.

Works Cited DeGregorio, William A. "Ulysses S. Grant." //The Complete Book of U. S. Presidents//. New York: Gramercy, 2001. 259-76. Print.

"Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia Foundation, 8 Nov. 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. .

Simon, John Y. "American President: Ulysses Simpson Grant." //Miller Center//. University of Virginia, 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. .

"Ulysses S. Grant." //The White House//. The White House, 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. .

Whitney, David C., and Robin Vaughn. Whitney. "Ulysses S. Grant." //The American Presidents//. 9th ed. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 2001. 150-55. Print.