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 __ Hiram Ulysses Grant __ [Also Known As: Ulysses S. Grant] // (April 27, 1822- July 23, 1885) //

// Republican // // Terms: March 4, 1869- March 4, 1873 //

// March 4, 1873- March 4, 1877 //

// VP: Schuyler Colfax (1869-1872) // // Henry Wilson (1873-1875) //// None (1875-1877) // Ulysses S. Grant was a highly intelligent man, who held very prestigious rankings in the military, yet was never able to succeed to his capabilities. Prior to his presidency, this man was one of the most honored males in the United States during this time period; due to his showings for the North in the Civil War. Instead of using his talents and experiences in office; he turned out to be scandalous and deceiving. Overall, I feel Grant earns a **D** for his presidency.

Grant served two terms as President between the years 1869 and 1877. Between each term Grant had different goals that he felt he wanted to achieve, and take this country back to where it was pre-war. His first term was all about the peace. All this man thought about was Reconstruction, creating what was previously there, and reinstituting the South fully back into the Union. This goal was made possible through the help of his Administration. The second term was about keeping face with the fellow citizens. To get back into office for a second term; he needed the country to back him up. His goals were to continue to strengthen Reconstruction, keep the community from believing his scandals and to mostly gain further support from the nation as a whole. He slightly succeeded, because he did get the supporting votes, but pretty soon after, they took a closer look at the scandals he was involved in. Between both terms, he was pretty successful in gaining the trust of the citizens during the votes, but afterwards; he struggled to maintain a positive image that all could enjoy.

In Congress, Grant had backup in both the Senate and House for each of his two terms; and this helped to pass many Acts and laws over the eight years. Looking at the numbers:
 * Senate || House Of Representatives ||


 * Congress || Years || Republican || Democrat || Other || Republican || Democrat || Other ||
 * 41 || 1869-1871 || 56 || 11 || 0 || 149 || 63 || 0 ||
 * 42 || 1871-1873 || 52 || 17 || 5 || 134 || 104 || 5 ||
 * 43 || 1873-1875 || 49 || 19 || 5 || 194 || 92 || 14 ||
 * 44 || 1875-1877 || 45 || 29 || 2 || 169 || 109 || 14 ||

Through all his power in Congress, he readily pushed to get his ideas across; and to create the world into something he envisioned. In the 41st Congress; they passed four major Acts, the Public Creation of 1869, the Force Act of 1870, the Currency Act of 1870 and the Funding Act of 1870. The Funding Act was Grant’s way of fixing the economic issue the nation was experiencing; it would give back the high interest bonds for the lower interest ones. It did little in the way of success. During the 42nd Congress, they passed many more Acts, and even added the Yellowstone National Park. The most important Acts in this session were the General Mining Act of 1872, and the Timber Culture Act. The Mining Act gave the United States right to control and regulate the minerals used for mining (like gold, silver, etc). This was an issue to the miners, because that was basically taking away from their earnings. Then there was the Timber Culture Act, which preceded the Homestead Acts. Now, the people would be given over 160 acres of land, just as long as they planted trees over a quarter of it. (For many this was quite the bargain). The 43rd and 44th were slower in the passing of ideas through office. There was the Species Resumption Act, which meant citizens could trade in the paper money for gold in 1879; as well as the Page Act of 1875, which stopped the entrance of unwanted immigrants into the United States; due to the high rate from China. Lastly, there was the Desert Land Act of 1877; and this began the growth of economic Western United States. This man had a great relationship with Congress; which barely reflects why he was such a poor president.

Grant’s Administration had some positive outcomes, which greatly benefited the country at the time; such as Reconstruction and the Ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment. In Reconstruction, the Administration sent the military to use force against any state the discouraged black voting. These forces lead to many issues being resolved, due to the high threat of violence. Also, they declared that you “can not deny voting due to race, color or previous servitude”; which forever changed the laws of voting. The negatives in Grant’s Administration were more dominant in the total outcome of the country. First, and foremost, they were scandalous! Over five scandals had been committed over his years in office, such as the Black Friday corner gold market, the Credit Mobilier with the Union Pacific Railroad and the Whiskey Ring liquor pocket tax. The Black Friday issue was with Fisk and Gould; in which they tried to increase the value of gold; by cornering the markets. While the Whiskey Ring was less known, the case went to court; for Grant’s men stealing the taxes made off of the liquor. Along with the scandals, they also suffered through the Panic of 1873. The Panic put the United States in a five year economic slump. They predict this issue was brought upon by the Cooke and Company failure, the crash of the Vienna stock market and the insurance claims filed after the Great Chicago Fire; as well as too many loans being left unpaid. While they had both positives and negatives to go off of; they are more greatly remembered for their failures, and being crooks.

Ulysses S. Grant had the most power in Reconstruction of the country. He will further be remembered for his desire for Reconstruction because that was what he intended to achieve while in office; and he did. The country little by little began to come back together; and the states continued to rejoin the Union. His goal of peace was accomplished; and he did make a difference in the running of our world today. We are one, and we owe a lot of that to him; he assisted in our nationalism. Reconstruction was a necessity in the time after the war; and Grant was the man to lead it.

Overall, Grant was a man with such potential. He had the country backing him up, and he had all the experience of leadership he’d ever need; yet he failed to use it. Had he kept out of the secrets, and the scandals, and ran the country like a man; he would never have been in the position he was before he left. He would have been more greatly remembered in a positive light; and could have influenced the books forever. Sadly, with his inability to deliver, he only deserves a **D** for his presidency. Works Cited "American President: Ulysses Simpson Grant." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. . Degregorio, William A. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. 3rd ed. Avenel: Wings Books, 1984. Print. "41st United States Congress -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. . "44th United States Congress -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. . "42nd United States Congress -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. . "43rd United States Congress -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. . "Ulysses S. Grant -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. . "Ulysses S. Grant: Biography from Answers.com." //Answers.com: Wiki Q&A combined with free online dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedias//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. .