Ulysses S. Grant, and his US Presidency

Ulysess S. Grant was the 18th president of the United States and was in office for two terms, 1869-1877. He was known as a war hero by many people and was given the nickname, “Unconditional Surrender.” Grant is most known for leading the Union over the Confederates during the Civil War. After the Civil War, in 1864 Grant was promoted to general-in-chief of the Armies of the United States by President Lincoln. Just four years later in 1868 Grant was running for president of the United States (Civil War Trust).

Ulysess Grant was a very well-known war hero before coming into the office. He was appointed general-in-chief of the United States Armies, shortly after that in 1866 he was given the grade of full general, which was only held previously by one man, George Washington. Shortly after this Grant began his career in politics. Grant and Johnson did not see eye to eye and Grant soon took the Radical Republicans viewpoint on policies. At a Republican National Convention he was nominated as a candidate for president (Biography: Ulysses S. Grant).

Grant was not a man who necessarily wanted to run for president, but was respected by many and convinced by the Radicals to do so. Grant began to adopt many of the Radicals ideas when going into presidency. He supported policies of the Radicals that did not allow the leaders of the Confederacy to hold political power. One of which was provide African Americans with civil and political rights, with the right to vote. He came to believe that the federal government had to protect African Americans from racist Southern governments and preventing former Confederates from retaking power again (American President: A Reference Resource).

While Grant was in office he did not have many actual accomp...

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...he Presidency of Ulysess S. Grant).

Although Grant was now known for doing anything extremely important during his time in office, he did do one thing and that was fighting to protect the rights of African Americans. He fought for their rights more than any other nineteenth-century President. He worked hard in passing the 15th amendment which gave blacks the ability to vote. He may not have been fit for the job of a president, but Grant was a very good war hero and will be remembered for his efforts and battles won before coming into presidency. He was an amazing war leader and will always be remembered for that.

Works Cited

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/ulysses-s-grant.html http://millercenter.org/president/grant/essays/biography/3 http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/ulyssessgrant

http://www.nps.gov/history/logcabin/html/usg3.html