John+-+UG+-+08

=Ulysses Simpson Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885)=

Schuyler Colfax (1869-1873), Henry Wilson (1873-1875)
Grant served two decently eventful terms. He oversaw the ratification of the fifteenth amendment, conflicts with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), the Panic of 1873, the admission of Colorado, the Black Friday Scandal, the Civil Rights Act, the Whiskey Ring Scandal, and more. For his well-played presidency in the face of many issues, Grant deserves an A. Grant’s goals were to relieve the debts from the war, reduce inflation, and help defend equal rights. His first goal was greatly achieved as the debt was reduced by over 430 million dollars. The second goal was achieved by the veto of the Inflation Bill after the Panic of 1873. His third goal was also decently accomplished through the ratifying of the fifteenth amendment which established voting rights for African Americans. Grant did not have a very good relationship with all of Congress. Although he got along with most of Congress at first, it did not last very long. As shown by the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal, the Sanborn Incident, and the Whiskey Ring Scandal, Grant was betrayed by both vice presidents, one of his Secretaries of War, and one of his Secretaries of Treasury. During his two terms, he passed the Ku Klux Klan Act, which was used to counter terrorist activity in the South, the Public Credit Act, the Coinage Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1875, and the bill that created Yellowstone National Park. He had 94 vetoes, the most important being the veto of the Inflation of Currency Bill, which helped the recovery after the financial panic. Grant’s presidency had many good accomplishments, but perhaps the best was the ratifying of the Fifteenth Amendment and all of his actions towards equal rights. The Fifteenth Amendment secured the right for African Americans to vote and was a huge step for the spread of equal rights in America. Along with the Fifteenth Amendment, his Enforcement Acts (which included the KKK Act) all helped to secure these equal rights. The worst actions he made as president were obviously the Scandals. These weren’t even really his fault. He gave positions in government to people who had helped him and who he thought he could trust. Then he was blindsided by the betrayal of so many of them. After the scandals happened, he didn’t react as well as he could’ve against these events. Some of his actions did set precedents for the future. Most of all would’ve been the Fifteenth Amendment and the Enforcement Acts. These actions led to the more tolerant America we live in today. Racism and the KKK still exist, but to a much lesser extent than in his time period. In the end, Ulysses S. Grant was an undeniably good president. He excellent military leadership during the Civil War proved that he was a man fit to lead, and the eight years in office just enforced it. He deserves an A for being one of our greatest presidents. He’s not quite Abe Lincoln, but he comes pretty close.

“Ulysses S. Grant.” //Miller Center of Public Affairs.// 2008. University of Virginia. 11 November 2008.  “Ulysses S. Grant.” //The White House//. Washington. 11 November 2008. 