Thesis Part 1

By John Page

Ulysses S. Grant should have been a strong president. After all, he had a record as a war hero. Yet, he was unable to stop the collapse of most of his programs. Why did this happen? By examining what his weaknesses as president were, we can see what went wrong. Grant’s main weakness as a president was dealing with racial matters. His attempts to address racial injustice aggravated the ex-Confederate resentment toward the United States Army. The Army was blamed for what happened to the South during the Civil War.  This led to a backlash against any attempt of a new order. This paper will also look at how later historians have explained what Grant did or didn’t do as president.

When people think of presidents, they often only name the few who are seen as good leaders. Less famous leaders have had an important effect on the nation as well. While everyone can talk about why men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln should be remembered, there are others who also should be remembered, whether for good or for ill. One such person is the 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant. He is often ranked as one of the worst presidents by historians, and yet he has recently been somewhat rehabilitated by other historians who focus on his positive qualities.[1]  Many have argued that Grant was a weak president who had lost control of the nation during a crucial time.[2]  Grant’s efforts produced some very important changes in American history, such as ensuring that the rights of minorities were protected and reuniting the nation after the Civil War.  These efforts are being recognized more by historians of the present day.

Certain facts about Grant contradict this perception of weakness. While Grant was relatively unknown before the war, he became famous because he was the successful general whom the Union craved.  The North saw him as a skilled leader. He rose to his position not because someone liked him but because he was seen as the best man for the job. Later, he was elected overwhelming throughout the country in 1868. As president, Grant tried to combat the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and others who fought for the Lost Cause of the Confederacy throughout this period. This record would indicate a man who was not weak or indecisive. He knew what he wanted to get done as a leader.

Before Grant was president, he had to have done something to make him well known. In Grant’s case, this was his effort to save the Union from collapse during the Civil War as the North’s top general. His actions brought him great attention and affection from the populace. He was seen as an appropriate symbol of the North, as his origins matched the American ideals of advancement through self-sufficiency and hard work.[3]  This came from the fact that he was the general that most of the people of the North trusted to win the war, and he had done what was asked of him.

[1] Joan, Waugh. U.S. Grant. (Durham: University of North Carolina Press, 2009).

[2] Philip, Abbot, 2013. Bad Presidents: Failure in the White House. (New York: St. Martin’s Press)121.

[1]Waugh,  7

[3]Waugh,  7