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Ulysses S Grant

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Ulysses S Grant: An American Hero

Shreya Joshi
Social Studies
Mr. Nieskens
May 27, 2014
In the 1800’s, the United States was a growing and thriving nation. In the South, many plantations were producing mass amounts of cotton. To keep up with the cotton demand, plantation owners bought more slaves to grow and harvest the cotton. The cotton and slave industry’s blossomed because of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin (Cayton et al 274). By 1850, the country had conflicting views because slavery became a growing issue. In fact, the main reason for the Union separating was over slavery being illegal or not. The Union broke up under Lincoln’s presidency when South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860 (371). The upper South seceded as well and founded a new country called The Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy. The war begins after they secede. Born Hiram Ulysses Grant, he led the Union to victory in the Civil War and wrote a heroic legacy. Grant fought in the Mexican and Civil wars. At the age of 15, he applied to West Point Military Academy and was barely accepted (Rickarby 6). Due to his background with working with horses, he was an excellent cavalryman. While in the army, he was promoted quickly. For a short period of time, Grant quit the army, yet regretted quickly. He failed at everything he tried before rejoining the army, proving he was meant for the army (Simon 6). He had written an incredible military history, which led him to have a successful presidency and became a phenomenal success. Ulysses Simpson Grant’s tremendous accomplishments during his military service as well as his rewarding presidency qualify him to be an American hero.
Successful. This is one word to describe Grant’s military service. Grant’s early war service got him promotions. He entered the military academy with reluctance and little love (Ulysses Simpson Grant

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