Was Ulysses Grant a Good President?

Historians generally consider Ulysses Grant to be one of America’s worst presidents, due to his involvement in numerous scandals and instances of corruption.

Yet he also accomplished many positive things for the country, such as safeguarding civil rights for newly freed slaves. In doing so, he proved to be an exception to the constitutional errors that so often marred Reconstruction.

Civil service reform

Civil service reform in the United States has a long-standing tradition. It was part of an overall reform movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aiming to reduce “spoils” in government employment – meaning politicians could appoint friends or supporters to top positions.

Grant sought to reform government employment practices, eliminating corruption and inefficiency that resulted in widespread dissatisfaction among employees and citizens alike. His aim was to introduce merit-based hiring procedures at the federal level and abolish the “spoils” system.

In 1883, the Pendleton Act established the federal merit system and made it illegal for federal officials to fire or demote a government employee due to political considerations.

Grant had a remarkable record of recruiting and training new soldiers, leading him to victory at Shiloh in April 1862 and Vicksburg the following month of July 1863.

Grant also took steps during his administration to reduce the country’s massive debt from the Civil War and put an end to terrorism against freed slaves in South Carolina, providing more chances for the Union to triumph during the conflict.

Although whether civil service reform has been successful is debatable, it’s undeniable that the system has promoted professionalism within local governments and significantly reduced political patronage during hiring and discipline processes – something difficult to achieve without an effective personnel system.

The Whiskey Ring

In 1875, during Grant’s second term in office, the Whiskey Ring emerged out of a conspiracy between government agents, politicians and whiskey distillers to avoid taxes. They would store their liquor in bonded warehouses for one year before paying the tax on it; when selling the whiskey at market value, only half would be reported as made for taxation purposes.

They then paid federal officials to avoid paying taxes and embezzle millions of dollars from the government. When this ring was busted in May 1875, 110 people were convicted and over $3 million worth of stolen taxes were recovered.

Grant’s presidency was severely marred by the scandal, which cast him in a bad light with voters and weakened his reelection prospects in 1876 as political opponents used it to turn voters against him.

Grant’s private secretary, Orville Babcock, was indicted for his involvement in the ring. However, Grant was able to get him acquitted partly by providing him with an affidavit stating his innocence of all charges.

Grant’s cabinet was rocked by this revelation and eventually fired a special prosecutor. Evidence of bribes paid to government officials by Grant’s personal secretary raised serious doubts about Grant’s loyalty and integrity.

Due to this scandal, Grant’s treasury secretary Benjamin Bristow resigned in June 1876 and was replaced by James Broadhead. Additionally, Grant embarked on a two-year world tour that freed him from his duties and allowed him to focus on his business interests; however, this drain on resources eventually led to cancer diagnosis for him.

The Civil War

The Civil War marked a pivotal moment in American history. It shaped the country’s economics, politics and social structure forever. While the Union ultimately prevailed and established a new nation, it also caused much turmoil and controversy.

After the war, America emerged as a great country and experienced tremendous growth. Its economy benefited from currency and credit reform, land subsidies, and protective tariffs; furthermore, it created new industries like steelmaking and railroads which employed thousands of people.

Throughout the war, the government implemented numerous reforms that enhanced lives in both North and South. For instance, it established refugee camps for freed Blacks which provided them with food, housing, and work opportunities; additionally, African Americans gained voting rights.

Grant was staunchly in favor of federal Reconstruction measures that sought equal rights for freed slaves, even though many Southern white settlers opposed them. He believed these were necessary in order to safeguard the gains made during the Union’s victory, particularly for African Americans.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of the 15th Amendment, which gave blacks the right to vote. This landmark achievement filled him with pride.

Grant’s military leadership proved instrumental to the Union’s victory during the Civil War. He successfully modified President Abraham Lincoln’s policy toward total war into one that fit perfectly with his strategy, leading to victory for the Union at last.

The Civil War tested both North and South’s economic resources. The North had a stronger industrial base, enabling it to produce more supplies needed for battle than its southern counterpart, plus had access to larger markets for those goods produced. On the other hand, Confederacy finances were heavily dependent on foreign capital markets – leading to issues for its treasury as it had to pay interest on debt sold abroad.

Reconstruction

The Civil War was a landmark moment in American history. It revolutionized warfare, established a nation-state, and tore apart an unprecedented slave society.

After the war, America faced the daunting task of rebuilding and reunifying their nation. President Ulysses Grant (1869-1877) was elected in 1869 to guide them through this turbulent time.

Grant was determined to uphold President Lincoln’s policy of reconciliation, promising to protect former slaves and prevent unreconstructed Confederates from regaining power in the South. Yet he understood that his administration’s policies might not always be popular either in the North or the South.

Reconstruction sought to build a biracial democratic government on the remnants of slavery. Although it did not guarantee political or economic rights to African Americans, Reconstruction brought about significant improvements in their lives as freedmen.

Black citizens in Union-occupied states began organizing coalitions which eventually formed biracial state governments in 10 of the 13 former Confederate states. These jurisdictions passed laws providing access to public education, charitable institutions and other social services for African Americans.

But these initiatives were met with fierce resistance from Radical Republicans in Congress, who felt that the generous 10 percent readmission policy was too weak, that white Southerners needed to do more for readmission and that the federal government should cease intervening in the South.

Liberal Republicans in the North questioned Grant’s approach to Reconstruction and doubted if federal intervention was necessary to maintain peace in the South. They believed the United States should instead focus on economic reforms such as civil service and tariff reform.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression was an economic catastrophe that began in 1929 in the United States and spread around the globe. It resulted in widespread unemployment and gave rise to nationalist movements such as Nazi Germany’s National Socialist Party.

Ulysses Grant had little understanding of the economy, and his limited business acumen did not help him much either.

His administration was plagued with scandals and he felt overwhelmed in the White House when it came to economic policy. Surrounded by corrupt aides such as Tweed Ring, Whiskey Ring and Credit Mobilier – these groups defrauded government of millions of dollars.

During his second term, Grant faced an economic crisis that rippled throughout the nation. A financial crash had hit the economy hard, leading many businesses and banks to go under.

He quickly understood the need to bolster the country’s currency. He believed that gold should serve as the standard for money.

In 1873, President Franklin Delano signed the Coinage Act which guaranteed that dollars would always be backed by gold. This revolutionary change revolutionized money exchange forever.

Gold’s price had plummeted, so Grant was forced to act quickly. He ordered the sale of $4 million worth of government gold which helped prevent a crash but nearly bankrupted Fisk and Gould in the process.

Grant then vetoed a bill in Congress that would have added more greenbacks to the economy, due to eastern bankers’ concern that it would weaken the dollar.