Ulysses Simpson Grant, the 18th President of the United States of America, was a significant influence on American history. Throughout his life, he always felt an exceptional commitment to the American military. This man helped the Union defeat the Confederates in the American Civil War and contributed to Americans during the Reconstruction time period, in hopes that America would be a fully industrialized nation. Grant displays many important military and political leadership roles in American society.
Ulysses S. Grant was “born at Point Pleasant, Ohio, on 27 April 1822, and named Hiram Ulysses, young Ulysses grew up in nearby Georgetown, across the street from his father’s tannery, and acquired an intense aversion to the stench of death” (Simon). Throughout his childhood, he attended local schooling, did chores around the farm, and was very adept with training horses (Simon). Grant was not an outgoing, boisterous young man. His classmates misinterpreted his shy personality for lack of intelligence and gave him the nickname “Useless” (Life Before Presidency). His childhood was bare and boring with no exceptional acts that hinted a military hero that was soon to come.
As Grant grew out of his childhood years, he enrolled in the military schooling in hopes to serve his country in the near future. By the year 1839, “he received a congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point” and “he was mistakenly registered as Ulysses S., which he eventually accepted, though insisting his middle initial stood for nothing” (Simon). Ulysses was not known for being the intellect of his class, although he was proficient in the mathematics field. Ulysses may not have gotten perfect scores during school, but he persis...
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...ancially stable, he began writing reminiscences to create “a memoir that ultimately earned nearly $450,000” (The White House). Soon after the completion of this autobiography, his death approached and his life would go down in history for years to come because of his bravery during the American Civil War.
In conclusion, Ulysses S. Grant lived an extraordinary life because of his intelligent military intellect. During the Civil War, this man was able to give the Union hope for a victory against the highly trained military leader, Robert E. Lee. The achievement earned him the presidency position for two terms, although he struggled to get the country functioning with unity. Grant will be remembered for his exceptional military success by guiding the Union troops through multiple battles and holding the position of the 18th president of the United States of America.
General Grant’s military skills were gained throughout his life as a soldier. All of these skills were used as he defeated countless enemies and won major battles. His expertise’s led him to victories throughout the whole war, which ultimately helped him play a major role in the Union victory. Grant started his military career in May 1839, at the military academy called WestPoint. He didn’t want to go to the academy; however, his father, Jesse Grant, forced him to go.
...ew the war he was fighting was not an epic Napoleonic battle but a war of attrition. He proceeded with his plan to slowly shrink Confederate territory and destroy Lee's army to the point that the South could no longer mount a viable defense. Eventually Grant succeeded and Lee's men were all that remained of the Confederate army. Grant surrounded them in trenches at Richmond until Lee was forced to surrender.
Within a short amount of time after the election of Abraham Lincoln to the office of presidency, the south had seceded from the Union and brought on the beginning of the American Civil War. In 1863, the third year of the war, Lincoln had given a speech of the sacred battle ground at Gettysburg, most notably called the Gettysburg Address. In it, he expressed sincerity for those who fought and died there and most of all, proclaimed his aims of war itself. Walt Whitman, a celebrated poet of the time, traveled from hospital to hospital witnessing the operations of wounded soldiers and also the horrific scenes of death and amputation. His views were very much different than those of Abraham Lincoln and though not evident, were still noticeable in his writings. Last, none other than William T. Sherman himself, a Federal Army General, disclosed letters sent between him and the Confederate General, J. B. Hood and also letters sent between him and the mayor of Atlanta, James M. Calhoun. In them, he expresses his opinions about the war which, not-so-surprisingly, is very similar to Lincoln's.
As President, grant had difficulty in making wise judgements. He was a man who tried, in most ways; to be honest, but still found himself in association to dishonest acts.
He was one of the most commonly known Confederate commanders after General Lee. On May 2nd, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville, a soldier from the Confederate side accidentally shot him leaving Jackson wounded with the loss of his arm. He died eight days later due to pneumonia. His death was a major setback to the Confederacy because not only was he courageous, he was brilliant, and religious too. Courage: the ability to do something that frightens one, meaning the act of being courageous is not to be deterred by danger.
A military genius, Grant possessed the vision to see that modern warfare requires total application of military and economic strength and was thus able to lead the Union to victory. In civilian life, however, he was unable to provide the leadership necessary for a growing industrial nation, even though he always retained the affection of the American public.
He entered the school in the autumn of 1921. His older brother, Peter, was doing very well academically but Ian would not be able to follow in his footsteps. Fleming knew that he was not the brightest crayon in the box so he turned his focus onto other things that would get peoples attention such as his appearance, wearing very heavily scented hair oil, not following the school rules, showing off how good he was at sports and he became a womanizer (British Writers.) In 1925 and 1926 Fleming was awarded the title “Victor Ludorum,” because of his accomplishments of in track and field events. Although he did have an interest in literature, Fleming rarely studied or even cared about his classes at Eton so his mother withdrew him from the academic classes and enrolled him into Eton’s Army Class Division. She was hoping that with this change he would be able to pass the entry exam and then go on and gain admission into the Royal Military College. He ended up ranking eleven out of one hundred students who took the exam. Before he went off to school he was enrolled at a school in Kitzbuhel, and experimental school to help kids find their way, so the Fleming could find himself (British Writers 84.) On the third of September in 1926 Fleming began his eighteen month long training course to become an officer. In training he excelled in the physical aspect but he
The same day his death was pronounced, flags across America were raised in respect. Everyone seemed to shut down in disbelief, even after the victory of the Civil War happened days before. When Lincoln’s body was being delivered by train to Springfield, tens of thousands of Americans lined up by the railroad to pay their respects to a man who had so much impact to the development of the United States. Abraham Lincoln was a leader who made an impact and was known for his devotion and honesty. His influence towards this country was shown through the endless number citizens who paid their respect to him. Abraham Lincoln was honored by his accomplishments as president, but most people are unaware of his life experiences that lead him to success. He experienced a lot during his lifetime, which fueled him to do the things he did to accomplish his achievements and relationships. President Abraham Lincoln is without a doubt one of the most vital historic figures to walk on American soil. He will continue to be known for generations to come, not only for being on the five dollar bill, the penny, or Mount Rushmore, but what he stood for and pursued. Without his determination and perseverance, slavery would not have ended like it did and America would not be running with emphasis on equality like it is
All the presidents in the past have played an important part in shaping our country the way it is today. Either for better or for worse. James Madison is one of the presidents which made a difference for the better and probably did some of the best actions for our country. He did his job with pride for The United States of America and he did his job humbly with efficiency. That is why I look up to this American Hero.
Douglas Macarthur was born on 26th January 1880, in Little Rock, Arkansas to General Arthur Macarthur and wife, Mary Pinckney Hardy. Like his father, he decided to pursue a military career and entered the army. He went to West Point Military Academy and graduated as a valedictorian in 1903. He began his career as an engineering officer in the army but climbed through the ranks and became a General. He was also nominated and given several honors and awards throughout his lifetime. He was known to be aggressive, radical and brave, which led him to make some decisions that were not generally approved (McCullough).
He was a member of his high school track team that went all-American. He was on the debate team and did quite well. This is probably where he got his combative nature. He was also the captain of his ROTC company in college. Giving him the leadership skills that he would need in later years. Hoover graduated near the top of his class from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in Law. (Powers, pp.48-52) With all of this going for him one might expect him to join the army as an officer as other men his age were being drafted to war, but as sole provider for his mother he was exempt from the draft.
Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. Lincoln was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil War. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, and he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that changed the war into a battle for freedom and declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. That November, Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address, which stated how a country must be dedicated to human freedom in order to survive. He dedicated the battlefield to the soldiers who had perished, and called on the living to finish the task the dead soldiers had begun. (Donald, 1995) Lincoln believed that democracy could be a lasting form of government. He showed a nobility of character that had worldwide appeal, and he was a man of great integrity. However, Lincoln was not only the 16th president of the United States, he was an American hero. Lincoln was a well-rounded individual and he had numerous outstanding qualities. However, it is important to remember that Lincoln also led a private life, complete with close friends and family.
William Tecumseh Sherman was born on February 8th in the year 1820 in Lancaster Ohio. His father was Charles Sherman, a well-known lawyer and an Ohio Supreme Court Justice. Sherman was one out of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman. In 1829 his father died when Sherman was only 9. He went to live with a family friend. This family friend was Thomas Ewing, an Ohio Senator and a Whig member. With Sherman’s connections, mostly Thomas Ewing, got him an appointment into West Point Military Academy in Upstate New York. Sherman did excel academically, but had little regard for their rules. He never got into too much trouble, and managed to graduate in 1840, 6th in his class.
James A. Garfield was an outstanding man of many endeavors who went from driving boats down the canal to become a general of the union army to the twentieth president of the United States of America (The American Heritage Book of the Presidents and Famous Americans). James A. Garfield was against slavery and had great plans for reconstruction, but sadly they were cut short. His term only lasted in the first year, as Garfield was shot by an office seeker and died many months later (The American Heritage Book of the Presidents and Famous Americans).
Over the course of the past years, there have been many presidents and debates whether or not they have been beneficial to the United States of America. Even though there have been other great presidents, people should know that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president was unquestionably an astonishing president. He was a great president because of how he: lead the union to victory, helped slaves to freedom, and issued the Emancipation Proclamation.