Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th president of the United States serving from 1869 to 1877. Most people would assume, like with any other president, that he was a big politician who worked selfishly to get his name on the ballot, but he was the opposite. Grant came to the spotlight because of his efforts during the Civil War. During the war he was appointed Lieutenant General and given command of all the armies by President Lincoln. Leading the Union army, Grant brought an end to one of the deadliest battles in American history. General Robert Lee of the Confederate Army was forced to surrender to Grant, ending the war. Grant immediately became a war hero and was Americas first to be appointed four-star general. Because of the amount of accomplishments Grant became very popular and was considered famous. At the upcoming election Republicans chose to nominate Grant as their presidential candidate. Grant won by a vote in the electoral college of 214-80 and received 52 percent of the popular vote. At age 46, he became the youngest president in U.S. history up to that time. Grant was a very unbiased President who pardoned the Confederate leaders while protecting the rights of freed slaves. He not only protected freed slaves but also Native Americans. Grant also critically strengthened relations with the United Kingdom by signing the Treaty of Washington.
Overall, Grant's intentions were honorable, and he made efforts that very few Presidents had attempted before him, especially in the areas of African American rights, Native American policy, and civil service reform. He also achieved a successful foreign policy and was responsible for improving Anglo-American relations. Grant was an honorable man who treated everyone equally and with respect. These attributes make it obvious why he was looked at so highly by the people in America and why he won the presidency.
Ulysses S. Grant was not only known as America’s 18th president but as the symbol of Union Victory as he...