Why Is Ulysses S. Grant Ineffective

Similar to the opposing essay, “Leave Grant Alone”, the author mentions Grant’s scandals during his presidency and the view of the “historical verdict” using time as a factor. Specifically, Representative Patrick McHenry states, “Every generation needs its own heroes” (“Time to Change the $50

During Reconstruction, the KKK tried to throw out the reconstruction government and both intimidated and abused African Americans.

Ulysses S. Grant was a quiet and reserved man however he was able to inspire a sense of bravery among his soldiers who fought on American battlefields (“American President”). He once said “In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins (“Ulysses S. Grant Quotes” brainyquote). The man we know as Grant was an honorable man who entrusted others and did not see dishonor in them. This man lead the country through troubled times from the Mexican-American War as well as the American Civil War. His leadership prowess was sure something else that most generals of the time could not match. Grant had much respect for his enemies, he believed in destroying the army of his enemy rather than just taking over their lands. Ulysses S. Grant is deserving of a lifetime achievement award because of his military skills in the Mexican-American War, Civil War and his abilities to pass the fifteenth amendment to the constitution during his presidency which positively affected the United States.

The election of Ulysses S. Grant to President in 1868, was out of a need to for Radical Republicans to have a like-minded president in office unlike that of President Johnson who had been impeached, but not fired by Congress. This was a political power play that the Republicans needed to maintain control and to continue their version of Reconstruction upon the South. During his presidency his ability to wage war and place the correct people in charge did not transition well into the civilian role as President. President Grant’s terms would be plagued by indecision that nearly destroyed the nation’s economy, took advantage of the spoils of his position, and failed to maintain a platform which to politically stand on. President Grant may have been an excellent military General, but he was unable to let go the military man that he was and

Thomas A bailey said,”Grant was an ignorant and confused President, and his eight long years of blunderland are generally regarded as a national disgrace.” Clearly, Bailey was not looking at Grant's accomplishments in the economic arena when writing this statement. C.Van Woodward described the years in which Grant was the president as “the all-time low point in statesmanship and political morality in our history.” Woodward must have forgotten about how Grant held the country together after the Civil War. Not only that but Arthur Schlesinger placed grant among the failures in his 1948 and 1962 presidential ratings.Historians should judge people in the context of their times, not before nor after. All of these three historians missjudged Grant, because they judged him by how president are now not how they used to be.All that grant was doing was putting the people and the country first to help evolutionate

Ulysses S. Grant is generally showed as bad president by having mostly red and couple orange blocks on the graph in Wiki. His presidency is marked by him not being a political man and seemed ineffective enforcing the civil rights laws. He was involved in some scandals. He led the United States during a depression from Europe which affected the United States jobs. Ulysses also was dealing with a few scandals and he also passed the 15 amendment. Ulysses was not a political man, so he deserves what he is ranked at.

Reconstruction (1867-1877) under Congress was a fast tightening of a noose in the South. Congress no longer trusted Andrew Johnson’s loose plan for Reconstruction, so they began closing in on their plans. Radical Republicans made many lasting impacts in this period. Under Congress, the 14th and 15th Amendment was created, guaranteeing rights to African Americans. A newly created Freedmen’s Bureau help create many schools and colleges, lasting up to modern times. African Americans held power in office, although they were quickly brought down by the Ku Klux Klan’s terrorism. The main path Reconstruction took was based on the government’s plans. There

Due to the gradual elimination of African-American rights and the withdrawal of Federal troops from the South to enforce such rights, the end of Reconstruction surfaced in 1877. In the eyes of blacks, Reconstruction was a point in history where they could see their civil rights expanding before their very own eyes. On the contrary, whites were deeply disturbed at the way their once “white supremacy” government was dwindling in the rear-view mirror behind them. This fourteen year period known as Reconstruction houses the memories of temporary freedom, scandal, backdoor deals, and the unresolved social, political, and economical issues of our country.

               Reconstruction in  American society after the Civil War, which claimed many lives and displaced numerous families, was a period of integration of the Freedmen into the society by granting them their political and civil rights. However, one may ask, did reconstruction fail or succeed due to the high rate of racism at that period? According to Historian Steven Hahn, Reconstruction failed when Freedmen lost their military support of the North which increased the rate of violence towards the freedmen. Also, David Blight a Historian argues that reconstruction failed as a result of the high rate of racism and the injustice in the American society against the African American at that time. I agree with Hahn and Blight that, Reconstruction failed as a result of  lack of injustice and racism against the African American, because the Freedmen were still being persecuted, had no equal rights to vote or own businesses like their white counterparts and also lacks the basic support of their Government. The Government's support and protection for the African American was vital for the Reconstruction movement to have succeeded, Although, the Radical Reconstruction made a tremendous effort to see that reconstruction movement was a success. However, with the compromise of the 1877, the withdrawal of the federal troops and high rate of racism towards

The south killed the idea of reconstruction with their violence. The Southern states are responsible for killing reconstruction because they were too violent and had no efforts in helping newly freed slaves. “He was foully murdered by the Ku-Klux-Klan in the Grand Jury room of the Court-House on Saturday.. He was stabbed 5 or 6 times and then hanged on a hook in the Grand Jury room.”

The selection of officials of Jackson was in many cases the return of a financial grant during campaigning. The consideration of the ability to govern, have intelligence and responsibility etc. were ignored in the wake of compensation. Although opposites alike were granted power they were not always for the continuance of democracy.

Overall governmental corruption ran rampant. Under President Ulysses S. Grant, a few scandals occurred. One of which had overcharging the public for railroad costs, involving Credit Mobilier, which was comprised mostly of wealthy politicians. They took off some of the taxpayer’s fund for themselves. This was also when the public found out that Republican lawmakers in Congress, including the Speaker of the House were being bribed.

However, soon after the war, the south moved quickly to rebuild their power over black Americans by creating “Black Codes”, which forced black Americans into jobs with low paid labor. There was a brief period that spanned from 1866 to 1868 was Congress overturned black codes, sent federal troops to protect black Americans, passed the fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The success of building the first public school and creating social services did not last long. This period serves as a point of reflection to what could have been in the south. As the first reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan occurred to lead to a state of terror, in 1874 after being driven underground by the federal government after its founding in1865.

Simon’s contends that throughout Grant’s life he never challenged his critics, even in his final message to Congress, “Grant admitted to “errors of Judgment, not of intent,” attributing them to lack of “previous political training,” adding Grant is probably the only president to admit any mistakes. Simon’s ends his article by stating there are an extensive amounts source material and interpretations on the subject of Grant and his administration, but they fail to inspire “confidence that the man himself has been understood.” “Continuing scholarly controversies as well as dim public perceptions, however discouraging to those demanding certainties, pay tribute to the continuing fascination of the man.” Simon aspires to the thought that upon further analysis new opinions and interpretations can be achieved to change historical views while changing public perception. However, Simon’s adoration of Grant is evident throughout his narrative, but he lacks in providing evidence of other scholars presenting false narratives, where other articles does provide reasons for presenting false

Through teaching Jefferson, Grant realizes that he had falsely attributed self-worth to things such as education and that there was much more to a human than his original understanding and he recognizes this when he says “My eyes were closed before this moment, Jefferson. My eyes have been closed all my life.” (Gaines, 2002, p. 225”). Indeed it was Jefferson that taught him that redemption belongs to everyone and that his duty to his community is worth much more than he initially ascribed to it. It is clear that Grant learnt from Jefferson as much as Jefferson learnt from Grant.