Grant+M.+-+UG+-+SP10

**Vice President(s): Schuyler Colfax, Henry Wilson**
No other president in US history is more synonymous with government corruption than the Ulysses S. Grant. Nonetheless, a brilliant strategist, general, and soldier Grant's brilliant brute force tactics during the Civil War, looked on with derision by some, ultimately subdued the south into surrender. His victories in the western theater of war won him praise as an officer in army with hesitant and inept leaders. At Appomattox Courthouse, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant forever making him a hero in the eyes of northerners. All of this war notoriety proved effective getting Grant an easy in for the presidency but his combat experience proved inexpedient in office especially during the crucial reconstruction period. Grant knew little of politics, diplomacy, and lacked worst of all in choosing subordinates to advise him. Grant had many legislative triumphs in affording minority groups more rights and seeing the creation of national parks. However his administration rife with scandal and corrupt cronies made terrible executive decisions that ultimately spelled out panic and depression for the post-war economy. Grant's civil prowess deserves a solid A, however his presidency, lacking, only earns him a feeble D+.

Upon his inauguration, Grant wanted "to stay above politics" however his cabinet members had other plans. Grant ran on a platform promoting "radical reconstruction" as Lincoln had hoped to. He felt that seeking peaceful assimilation of the southern states back into the Union was best for the country rather than vengeful vindication. Grant had been given the rank of 4 star general when he presided over the armies in the south and the various military districts. He had gotten in many disagreements with President Johnson arguing that the government should provide African Americans with civil and voting rights rather than turn power back over to white ex-confederate leaders. The issue one can infer was largely based partisanship. Blacks were proponents of the party of Lincoln- the Republicans and southern whites were largely democrat. However to justify his argument Grant supported the notion that the civil war costs were to be preserved by protecting the rights of the people they had fought to liberate which was a valid point. With full support of the North and sympathetic blacks, the president to be ran with the hope to be champion of reconstruction. Grant's goals were summed up when he stated "Let us have peace"- his words at the Republican Party convention.

Riding into the presidency fueled by the sensational hope of his fellow countrymen, all eyes were on Grant to restore the United States to domestic tranquility. However, bewildered Grant looked to congress for help. The republicans holding the majority in both the house and the senate from 1869 to 1875 found it easy to pass pro-north legislation. Many Americans still believed newly emancipated blacks to be inferior however Grant protected their voting rights with the help of congress issuing the Civil Rights Act of 1871. This bit of legislation protected blacks at the ballot box from the ruthless attacks of the Ku Klux Klan. However Grant watched painfully as democratic "redeemers" seized control of the House in the late 1870s. As corruption in Grant's presidency became apparent, the aims of congress shifted from reconstruction to economic issues. Congress looked with condemnation on the Credit Mobilier Scandal (mentioned later in this wiki) and proceeded to conduct of through investigation of the scheme. However Grant was among like minded contemporaries when in 1867 the company bribed congressmen to ignore the matter. It was not until 1873 that congress fully investigated the scandal shaming Grant and his cronies. Grant bred even more unpopularity with his congress attempting to pass the first Civil Service Commission. This program was to regulate the spoils system by making a sort of meritocracy for government workers so the most capable people were in office. It passed in 1872 but congress indignant of the legislation neglected to created additional laws to make the changes permanent. Congress for Grant in his first term was conciliatory, but for his second go-round, Grant faced strong opposition.

Some of the more favorable things that came out Grant's presidency were the rights he afforded to minorities. Grant obviously not wanting his civil war victories to be in vain supported the fair treatment of ex-slaves and also the Native American people being subjugated on the frontier. The single greatest achievement was the 15th amendment guaranteeing voting rights for all males 21 years old. Grant was willing to back up this amendment with federal firepower. When a mob broke out in New Orleans over the new multiracial city government he sent troops to quell the civil disorder. The cruel treatment of Native Americans bothered Grant as well. He strove to protect their lands from the encroachment of civilization. Grant created a new Board of Indian Commissioners headed by missionaries. He also lobbied for the creation of reservations as well. The former proved to be the first albeit meager step in recognizing the Indians as human beings and not merely a nuisance to be dispensed with. It would be many more years before blacks would be seen as equal with whites but the 15th amendment was a big step. As for the Native Americans, it would not be until after the bitter Indian Wars that their interests would be considered again.

Grant's list of blunders far outnumber his successful exploits but not all of his efforts can be counted as complete failures. Grant's biggest mistake was in judging the character of his advisers. Honest to a fault, Grant often handed out government offices to people who he owed a favor. He was inclined to give jobs out to his old military buddies rather than the most qualified politicians. With an motley crew of bureaucrats installed in office corruption inevitably followed. Grant's foolish choices manifested scandals such as the Black Friday scheme by Jay Gould and James Fisk. These two scheming men sought to corner the market on gold by buying up all bullion they could find. This worried George Boutwell, Grant's Secretary of Treasury who personally urged Grant to release some of the US gold reserves. Grant acted hesitantly and when he finally gave the order to release gold the damage had already been done. The gold market crashed and with it, the prices of other once-valuable commodities. This adumbrated the Panic of 1873. During a time in which paper currency was in short supply and needed to jump start the economy, Grant vetoed the Inflation Bill. This proved unpopular but Grant contended that the bill would destroy the nation's credit. Grant's position was valid and understandable but the veto caused the depression to last 5 years. The national coffers were also robbed blind in the Grant administration. The worst scandal was the Credit Mobilier scheme. A fraudulent railroad building contractor appealed to Grant as the company to undertake the construction of the trans-continental railroad. The government poured over a hundred million dollars into a project the company had no intent to fulfill and instead invested the money in Union Pacific railroad stock. Grant looked very poor after the scheme was exposed as the scumbags at Credit Mobilier absconded with 50 million in soft money.

On a lighter note, Grant's most lasting improvement to the United States was the creation of Yellowstone National Park. The first national park in the world, Grant's signature on the Act of Dedication set aside nearly 3,500 square miles of pristine wilderness for posterity. Such landmarks were preserved like Yellowstone Lake, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Old Faithful. A small hamlet within the park was named Grant Village in the president's honor. At the time, signing the park into existence was no ground-shaking declaration. However a national park was something truly unique to the American culture and set a precedent for environmentalists that would emerge from the coming Progressive Era. Grant effectively saved a huge piece of northwestern Wyoming as a place protected from the encroachment of progress and as a park for future generations to enjoy.

In conclusion, Grant was not short on heroism, honesty, and character but his presidency lacked any real direction or purpose. His achievements benefited minorities especially newly freed blacks but his lack of understanding of the the US market lead the post-war economy to suffer. While Grant remained a man of integrity, his friends and family made off like bandits robbing the federal government of thousands. Grant's positive exploits for civil rights and his strict adherence to the gold standard only make up for some of his flaws. Grant's presidency only earns him a D+.

Works Cited

http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/grant

http://cprr.org/Museum/Credit_Mobilier_1873.html

http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/presidents/grant/index.html