Welcome to Part Eighteen! It’s time for the hero of the Civil War, the restorer of the Union. Let’s dive into the administration of Ulysses S. Grant:
First day in office- 4th March 1869
Ulysses S. Grant was sworn into office on this day by Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase on the East Portico of the US Capitol Building. He and former president Andrew Johnson had refused to ride together, and as Johnson had also refused to ride separately, he did not attend. It rained in the morning but stopped just before noon, and the rest of the day was sunny. The inauguration was a grand event that was ticketed. Grant’s inauguration speech was relatively brief but full of inspiring rhetoric- ‘In conclusion I ask patient forbearance one toward another throughout the land, and a determined effort on the part of every citizen to do his share toward cementing a happy union.’ The Inaugural Ball was held in the Treasury Building and was too small to accommodate all the guests.
Wyoming allows women the vote- 10th December 1869
Wyoming became the first territory to allow women to vote and to hold public office on this day. Whilst Wyoming would not become a state for another twenty-one years, it was still a momentous day for the advancement of female suffrage. Wyoming would produce the first female governor in the United States- Nellie Tyloe Ross in 1924.
Virginia is readmitted- 26th January 1870
Virginia was readmitted to the Union on this day. Grant had pushed for this as president.
Fifteenth Amendment comes into effect- 3rd February 1870
The Fifteenth Amendment came into effect on this day. It stated that the vote could not be denied to any man based on ‘account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.’ In theory, this permitted the vote to all men, including freed slaves, but did not extend the franchise to women. Whilst the Fifteenth Amendment did assure this as a constitutional right, a number of states employed tactics to prevent non-whites from voting, such as literacy tests and grandfather clauses.
Signs First Enforcement Act of 1870 is signed- 31st May 1870
The First Enforcement Act of 1870 was signed on this day. Following the Fifteenth Amendment, the administration made efforts to protect African-American suffrage. The First Enforcement Act was designed to prevent discrimination and intimidation against these voters. It was also known as the First Ku Klux Klan Act, as they were some of the main instigators of violence.
Last Confederate state rejoins the Union- 15th July 1870
The last Confederate state- Georgia- rejoined the Union on this day. Whilst they had previously rejoined in 1868, they had been expelled for kicking African-Americans out of its legislature. Once Georgia agreed to readmit them, they were allowed to officially join again. The Union was now once again complete.
Signs Second Enforcement Act is signed- 28th February 1871
Grant signed the Second Enforcement Act on this day. The Second Enforcement Act saw the federal government take over national elections and ensured that marshals supervise polling.
Signs the Indian Appropriations Act- 3rd March 1871
Grant signed the Indian Appropriations Act on this day. Native tribes were no longer recognised as independent nations, and would instead be considered wards of the federal government. Congress now had a great degree of control over Natives and would find it much easier to gain their land.
Signs Third Enforcement Act- 20th April 1871
Grant signed the Third Enforcement Act on this day. Also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, it aimed to allow the federal government to take stronger action against the KKK and other groups deemed terror organisations. The army could be called into combat those interfering in elections and civil rights, and habeas corpus could be suspended if necessary.
Treaty of Washington comes into effect- 17th June 1871
The Treaty of Washington came into effect on this day. Signed by the British and American governments, it settled issues between the nations such as fishing rights, boundaries and navigation. The Treaty would see a strengthening of the Anglo-American relationship, and would see it remain generally stable since.
Great Chicago Fire- 8th August 1871
A fire on the west side of Chicago started on this day, spreading across the city and causing chaos in its burning wake. When it finally ended two days later, hundreds had died, thousands had become homeless and there were millions of dollars in damages. Donations flooded in as the city attempted to rebuild. The alleged cause of the fire, a cow owned by Mrs. O’Leary kicking over a lantern, is still a famous story, but alas likely untrue. It also contributed to anti-Catholic and immigrant sentiment due to Mrs. O’Leary’s status as both. Grant directed Lieutenant General Phillip H. Sheridan to oversee aid.
Signs act creating Yellowstone National Park- 1st March 1872
Grant signed the act that would create Yellowstone National Park on this day. Overfishing and hunting were a risk, so the act set out land for public use and enjoyment. Though it would take a number of years to get the right funding and staff, it set a precedent for the park system many Americans enjoy today. Yellowstone was not only America’s first national park, but the world’s.
Reelected- 5th November 1872
Ulysses S. Grant was successfully reelected on this day. He won thirty-one states, but electoral problems in Arkansas and Louisiana meant that those two were invalidated. The Democrats decided that their best strategy to defeat Grant was to not stand and rally around another candidate- Liberal Democrat Horace Greeley. In the only case so far of its kind in American history, candidate Greeley died after the election but before the Electoral College cast its votes. Greeley’s electoral votes were distributed among Democrats.
Signs Coinage Act- 12th February 1873
Grant signed the Coinage Act of 1873 on this day. The act established the Gold Standard and ended the free coinage of silver, but allowed smaller coins. Silver could not be used as a standard for transactions over $5 in one payment. The act was immensely controversial, so much so that it was named ‘The Crime of ‘73.’ It would be partially blamed for the Panic of 1873.
Signs Comstock Act- 3rd March 1873
Grant signed the Comstock Act on this day. It criminalised the sending of obscene materials, contraceptives, anything supportive of abortion and incitement of crime. The act was named for famed moral crusader Anthony Comstock, and is still widely cited in legislation and law.
Second inauguration- 4th March 1873
Ulysses S. Grant was sworn in for the second time on this day. He was once again sworn in by Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase on the East Portico of the Capitol building. The weather was extremely cold, at -16C/4F, the coldest of any March inauguration and second coldest of any (Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration won that). In his inauguration address, Grant made it short and sweet once again, but made it clear that he was unhappy with the rhetoric against him- ‘I have been the subject of abuse and slander scarcely ever equaled in political history, which to-day.’ The inaugural ball was a disaster. After being unable to fit everyone into the first ball, a special structure was built. Unfortunately, it was so cold that half didn’t attend, the food froze, people danced in their coats and Grant left early.
Panic of 1873 begins- 18th September 1873
The Panic of 1873 began today. A stock market crash in Austria-Hungary led to a financial crash that affected much of the western world. The failure of major bank Jay Cooke and Company collapsed on the 18th September after railroad companies were unable to pay money back. Following the collapse of Cooke, at least one hundred banks and financial institutions went bust. Many railroad companies also fell. Workers were laid off. Eighteen thousand businesses failed. The unemployment rate went up to 14% by 1876. The financial pressure was no doubt one of the reasons as to why Grant didn’t run for a third term.
Signs Civil Rights Act of 1875- 1st March 1875
Grant signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875 on this day. It guaranteed that all people could enter public places such as accommodation, cemeteries, theatres, schools, churches and ‘other places of amusement.’ The second section added that if someone was rejected from entry, they could receive financial restitution. The act was declared unconstitutional in an 8-1 Supreme Court decision in 1883.
Whiskey Ring scandal is blown open- 10th May 1875
On this day, the Whiskey Ring Scandal was revealed. 238 distillers, officials and others were accused. At every part of distribution, they bribed Treasury Department officials in order to evade taxes. Those taxes saved allowed increased profits and for them to share it among themselves. One of the men implicated was Grant’s private secretary, Orville Babcock. Whilst Grant was entirely innocent, his proximity to scandal was once again damaging. Grant would later write a defence of Babcock for his trial, which helped lead to an acquittal. Despite this acquittal, Grant let Babcock go.
Confirms he’s not running for reelection- 29th May 1875
With his administration mired in controversy, Grant made the decision not to run for a third term. Whilst the 22nd Amendment had not yet come in, it was generally a tradition to stop after two terms to honour George Washington’s examples. His wife was desperate for him to stay in office as she adored being First Lady, but only found out when the press release came out. The Republicans would have to find a new candidate for 1876.
Death of Henry Wilson- 22nd November 1875
Henry Wilson became the fourth vice president to die in office on this day. He had suffered from ill health ever since his May 1873 stroke, but a fatal one killed him. As the 25th Amendment was not yet in place, Grant did not replace Wilson.
Battle of the Little Bighorn- 25th June 1876
The Battle of Little Bighorn occurred on this day. It pitted the United States Army and Native allies led by General George A. Custer against a combined indigenous force led by Crazy Horse as part of the Great Sioux War of 1876. The battle became especially famous for General Custer’s last stand. Custer, along with 267 other men on his side, which included relatives, was killed. He is very controversial, but the efforts of his devoted widow Libbie helped cement his legacy.
Inconclusive election result- 7th November 1876
The 1876 presidential election ended inconclusively on this day. Whilst Democrat Samuel J. Tilden led Republican Rutherford B. Hayes in electoral votes, the results from four states were disputed. Tilden was only one vote short from a majority. When Congress created an electoral commission, it voted on party lines, so the Republican majority awarded the votes to Hayes. With Democrats deeply unhappy, it was time to do something .
Compromise of 1877- 26th February 1877
The Compromise of 1877 happened on this day. We don’t know exactly what was said or decided, but the Republican Party made concessions to the Democrats so that they would accept Hayes as president. It’s believed that the end of Reconstruction and states’ rights were among the things agreed. With the compromise done, Hayes was officially president-elect.
Leaves office- 4th March 1877
Ulysses S. Grant left office for the final time on this day. Grant was the first president to serve two terms since Andrew Jackson forty-years prior. He and his wife Julia, who was devastated about leaving, embarked on a world tour in which they got to meet leaders such as Queen Victoria. Unfortunately, poor business dealings by Grant left the family heavily in debt. In an attempt to get some money for his wife, Grant- who was by this point terminally ill- started to write his memoirs. Grant finished these prized memoirs less than a week before his death. Ulysses S. Grant died of throat cancer on the 23rd July 1885, aged sixty-three. The massive success of his memoirs allowed his widow to live comfortably. Whilst historians and the public had a mixed, even declining view of Grant initially, his reputation has improved immeasurably in the last half a century. He is now usually placed in the upper half of presidents.
That’s it for Ulysses S. Grant. Tune in next week for Rutherford B. Hayes, in which we’ll see him deal with ending Reconstruction, railroad strikes and telephones.
