This 'Radical' Republican President Righted Wrongs

Born April 27, 1822, into a Methodist family in Ohio, Ulysses Grant was nominated at age 17 for a position at West Point by Congressman Thomas Hamer, who mistakenly added the middle initial “S” to his name.

When the Civil War began, Grant responded to the call for volunteers. He was quickly promoted to brigadier general and captured Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, gaining the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” Grant. When Grant captured Vicksburg, it gave control of the Mississippi to the Union and split the Confederacy. Lincoln made him commanding general of the United States Army.

Grant ended the Civil War at Appomattox, saying: “The war is over. The Rebels are again our countrymen.”

Five days later Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865.

In 1868, Grant was elected the 18th U.S. president.

Considered a radical Republican, Grant worked to end the Democrat policies of racial discrimination in the South, fought the Klu Klux Klan and supported the 15th Amendment guaranteeing freed slaves the right to vote.

Grant stated in his second inaugural address, March 4, 1873: “Under Providence I have been called a second time to act as Executive over this great nation. … The effects of the late civil strife have been to free the slave and make him a citizen. Yet he is not possessed of the civil rights which citizenship should carry with it. This is wrong, and should be corrected. To this correction I stand committed.”

Grant ended the Democrat policy of Indian removal. He appointed the first Native American to serve as commissioner of Indian Affairs, Ely S. Parker of the Seneca tribe.

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