President Grant

Brief overview of Grant as president:

Positive

Hamilton Fisk as Secretary of State

Appointed many African-Americans to federal positions

Signed bill into law giving equal rights to AA and Jews 3/19/69

Saved bureau of Education from being defunded in order to educate AA

Peace Policy with Indians

·         Create a board of Indian commissioners to oversee Indian affairs and fight corruption

·         Moved Indian affairs to war department because of corruption

·         Sent troops to protect Americans who moved west with Homestead Act and Railroads

Broke the Gold Ring with sale of $5,000,000 worth of gold

Generated support for KKK Act against significant opposition – enforced it, too.

·         With help of Ackerman, put down KKK

Arbitration over USS Alabama led to strong relationship with Britain

Veto Inflation Bill – is this a positive or a negative?

Executive order adding teeth to a piece of legislation from congress – prevented reduction of wages when working 8hr day on government property

Negative

Made poor appointments to offices based on past relationships

·         Belknap

·         Babcock

·         Vice Presidents

·         Butterfield

·         Appointment of purchaser of house in St.Louis to sec of Treasury

Allowed the exploration of gold in the black hills which contributed to the causes of the Sioux War

·         Many in cabinet against it.

Attempted to annex San Domingo and Cuba independently

Jay Gould and Fisher had early influence during gold ring

Blind spot for Orville Babcock

Feud with Sumner led to rejection of Supreme Court nominees

Credit Mobilier involved both vice presidents, Colfax and Wilson

Signed bill increasing government salaries during his term

Bent to political pressure and did little to put down 1876 election violence

Questions:

1.        Does the fact that Democrats increased investigations for political gains in the 1874 midterm elections impact how we feel about their findings? 

2.       Does the fact that he was dealing with the pressures of Reconstruction and hyper-industrialization change how we feel that he handled issues of the day?