How Did Ulyssess Simpson Grant Shaped The United States

Ulysses Simpson Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, on April 27, 1822. He was most known for his contribution in the Civil War as well as being one of the presidents of the United States. After starting at the bottom, Grant worked his way through the ranks of the military all the way to the top. Grant was promoted to the position of general of the Union Armies in March of 1869. After the Civil War, he was elected president in 1849. He was reelected by a landslide in 1872.1 Through his acts in the Civil War, and his acts as president, Ulysses Grant shaped the United States in a positive way and helped push this country on the path to greatness. During the time he served in the military, Grant fought in multiple battles and strategized

It did not take Grant long to sign his first law. His first law was signed on March 18, 1869. The law pledged to redeem in gold the Greenback currency. According to historians, there was a lot of corruption in Grants system, but Grant tried his best to stay straight in his plans for the country, and he himself was never involved in any of the scandals that came up. Ron Chernow said “Grant is sometimes portrayed as an ignorant drunk, he was in fact a profound thinker with a sensitivity to suffering that underlay his kindness to vanquished armies and people of other races.” Ulysses Grant was very serious about racial equality. He helped push the 15th Amendment through to give voting rights to black men.2 Grant was far from a perfect president, but his intentions for the country were good. His plans did not go the way he wanted them to due to inexperience in politics, corruption, and him being unwilling to get involved. According to Joan Waugh, “in the areas of Native American policy, Civil Service Reform, and African American rights, he took steps that few had attempted.3 He also executed a successful foreign policy and was responsible for improving Anglo-American relations.” Historians used to believe that Grant was one of the worst presidents in U.S. history, but when they looked back at his presidency again, they gained a higher respect for

“I don’t think he was a great president, but I do think he was an essential president,” said Jean Waugh. Waugh Also believes that there was not another person that could have held the country together at such an unstable time better than Grant did. I believe that Grant’s accomplishments as president and in the Civil War were simmered down because of facts about how much more the North had during the war, and scandals during his presidency. Ulysses Grant was a great general, but not the best at leading the country.4 Ulysses S. Grant helped put the United States on the path it is now thanks to his contributions in the Civil War, and through his time as president. He was responsible for winning a major battle and developing the strategy for winning the Civil war. He also took steps other presidents would not when it came to black rights. Grant cared a lot about equal rights for blacks. On his deathbed he wrote “As time passes, people, even of the South, will begin to wonder how it was possible that their ancestors ever fought for or justified institutions which acknowledged the right of property in