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Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency

Definition

The presidency of Ulysses S. Grant began on March 4, 1869, and ended on March 4, 1877. Grant, a Republican, took office after defeating Democrat Horatio Seymour in the 1868 election. His presidency was marked by efforts to stabilize the nation during Reconstruction and controversy over corruption within his administration.

Analogy

Think of Ulysses S. Grant's presidency as a roller coaster ride at an amusement park. There were high points like the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment (the peak of the ride), but there were also low points such as numerous scandals (the sudden drops). Despite these ups and downs, it was an important part of America's journey (or day at the amusement park).

Related terms

Reconstruction Era: The period following the Civil War from 1865 to 1877 when attempts were made to redress inequities of slavery and its political, social, and economic legacy.

Fifteenth Amendment: An amendment to the US Constitution ratified in 1870 that prohibits federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote based on race or previous condition of servitude.

Whiskey Ring Scandal: A scandal during Grant's second term where government officials were accepting bribes from whiskey distillers who wanted to avoid paying taxes.