Bruce Catton's, “Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts” begins by painting a scene of the end of the American civil war at Appotomax. The author describes two American Generals, their contrasting beliefs and what was common between them.
Robert E. Lee, was an aristocrat from Virginia. He embodied the ideals of the privileged upperclassmen, who had no desire for change. He believed that there should be inequality within America's social structure. The author mentions “In the end, it almost seemed as of the Confederacy fought for Lee; as if he himself was the Confederacy.” Lee, fought for the aristocratic concept to rule the country.
Ulysses S. Grant, was a commoner from the rugged Western frontier. He was a man who came up in life the hard way.