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Ulysses S. Grant Political Party: Republican Dates of Terms: March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877 Vice President: Schuyler Colfax (1869-1873), Henry Wilson (1873-1875), None (1875-1877) Grant deserves a C for his presidential terms. He had some success but he also had plenty of failures. One good thing that Grant did was the Treaty of Washington and how he fought for African American civil rights. Grant’s administration though suffered because of the scandals that happened while he was president. For that Grant deserves a C for his presidency. One goal of Grant was to help the newly freed slaves keep their freedom. Grant used military and federal legislation to protect black citizens. Another one of Grant’s goals was to help the republican party to survive in the South. In order for the Republican party to survive in the South Grant needed black votes. Grant wanted to ratify the fifteenth amendment which would give any citizens the right to vote no matter what race they are. Grant also passed a series of laws called the Enforcement Acts to help protect the right to vote. Grant though did not want the federal government to become arbiter of state conflicts. When Grant first became president he wanted to remain above politics. He wanted to surround himself with people he trusted. This resulted in the cabinet being divided. During Grant’s presidency the Republican and Democratic parties were equally balanced. Grant relied on state governments and congress instead of a strong executive branch. Grant vetoed 93 bills. Grant had an okay relationship with congress. Grant’s action that had the most positive outcome as president had to do with the Treaty of Washington in 1871. The treaties main goal was to make sure that the damages three confederate war ships during the civil war done to merchants was solved. These damages done to the merchants strained the relationship between the United States and Britain. The treaty helped to settle the border dispute between the United States and Canada. This helped to prove a point that there were other ways to settle disputes than to fight each other. Grant’s action that had the most negative outcome was all the scandals that happened during his presidency that rocked his administration. In 1872 the Credit Mobilier scandal was brought to light. Railroad companies were overcharging millions of dollars for government contracts. In 1875 Benjamin Bristow brought to light that fraud was taking place in the Midwest. This fraud involved Grant’s personal secretary Orville Babcock. Babcock was found not guilty, but he had to step down as Grant’s personal secretary. Grant’s lasting impression on the country was his belief in social justice. Grant fought for blacks rights to vote. Grant also wanted to protect the blacks from the injustices they have been exposed to. He also ratified the fifteenth amendment which was a great decision made by Grant. When this amendment was ratified many women started to talk about wanting the right to vote. Today we can still see the affects of this amendment, everyone who is eighteen and older have the right to vote In conclusion the country was better off after Grant’s presidency. True during Grant’s presidency there were scandals that went on. Grant though made good decisions during his presidency. Grant had the fifteenth amendment ratified this helped African American citizens gain the right to vote. Grant also fought for blacks civil rights because he thought that they deserved to be treated equally.