美国总统17 尤利西斯·S·格兰特.docx

美国总统17尤利西斯S格兰特UlyssesS.Grant:Well-MeaningVOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutUlyssesS.Grant.Hetookofficein1869.Buthispresidencyisnotwhatmadehimfamous.GrantisbestrememberedforbeingthecommanderofUnionforcesattheendoftheCivilWar.HeledtheUnitedStatestovictoryovertheConfederateStatesofAmerica.ManyAmericansalsorememberGrantbecauseoftheunusualstoryabouthismiddleinitial.UlyssesS.GrantbyMatthewBradyzaround1870Whenthefuture18thpresidentwasborn,hisparentsnamedhimHiramUlyssesGrant.ButtheboywasknownasUlysses.WhenGrantwasayoungman,amemberofCongressappointedhimtoatopcollege:theU.S.MilitaryAcademyatWestPointzNewYork.ThecongressmandidnotknowGrantpersonally.HethoughtGrantusedhismother'sfamilynamezSimpson,ashismiddlename.SothecongressmancalledhimUlyssesS.Grant.Themiddleinitial"S"becameofficial.Yearslater,Grantjokedthatitdidnotmeananything.DuringtheCivilWar,howeverzGrant'smiddlenamedidcometohaveapopularmeaning.InafamousbattleinthestateofTennessee,Grant'sarmyoverpoweredtheiropponents.TheConfederategeneralsentanoteaskingforthetermsofsurrenderinotherwords,whatwouldtheUnionarmyrequireofthemiftheywithdrewfromthebattle?GeneralGrantreplied:"Notermsexceptunconditionalandimmediatesurrender."TheanswerdidnotpleasetheConfederategeneral,butheagreed.IntheNorth,peoplecelebratedthevictory.TheybegansayingGrant'sfirsttwoinitialsstoodfor"UnconditionalSurrender."EarlylifeGrantwasborninthestateofOhio.Hewastheoldestofsixchildren.Grant'sfatherworkedasatanner-apersonwhomakesleatherfromanimalskin.AsaboyzGranthelpedhisfather.Buthedidnotlikethework.Hesaidhewouldnotdoitwhenhewasanadult.SozwhenGrantwasayoungman,hisfatheraskedWestPointofficialstoadmithissonasastudent.TheGrantshadlittlemoneytopayfortheboy'scollegeeducation.Buttheyknewhewasintelligentandskilled,andWestPointwasfree.Inexchangefortheireducation,WestPointgraduatesserveinthemilitary.Grantprobablydidnotseemlikeasoldier.Hewasquietandsensitive.Hehatedseeingmendieinbat±le,andhequestionedthevalueofwar.Butheturnedouttobeanexcellentmilitaryleader.AfterhegraduatedfromWestPoint,hefoughtintheMexicanWarandearnedmedalsforbravery.Hewasgivenmorepowerandaddedresponsibilities.However,Grantwaslonely.Earlyinhiscareer,hemarriedJuliaDentzthesisterofacollegefriend.HewasdevotedtoJuliaandtheirfourchildren.ButhisfamilycouldnotcomewithGrantonallhisdeploymentsforthemilitary.Theywereseparatedforyearsatatime.WithouthisfamilynearbyzGrantbeganhavingproblemswithmoney.Somepeoplesaidhealsodranktoomuchalcohol.Oneday,Grantresignedfromthearmy.Hereturnedhometohisfamily.Atfirst,hetriedtofarm,buthecouldnotmakeenoughmoney.Thenhetriedotherjobs.Finally,heaskedhisfatherforhelp.Hisfathergavehimajob,butitwastheonetheyoungGrantsworeheneverwanted:workinginaleathershop.CivilWarThenthingstookasurprisingturn.TheCivilWarbegan.TheUnionneededexperiencedmilitaryleaders.Grantacceptedapositionleadingadifficultgroupoftroops.Hewasabletotrainthemandearntheirrespect.QuicklyzGrant'spublicimageasamilitaryleadergrew.HewonmajorvictoriesfortheUnioninbattlesatFortDonelsonxTennessee,andVicksburgzMississippi.Thepresidentatthetime,AbrahamLincoln,likedthewayGrantplannedthebattles.HealsolikedthatGrantdideverythinghecouldtowin.Grantpermittedsomanyofhissoldierstodiethathiscriticsgavehimanickname:TheButcher.Grant'smethodswereharsh,buteffective.TheCivilWareffectivelyendedwhenthefamousConfederategeneralRobertE.LeesurrenderedtoGrantatAppomattoxCourtHouse,Virginia.Thefollowingyear,GrantwasnamedgeneraloftheU.S.armies.TheonlyotherpersontoholdthatpositionwasthemilitaryleaderduringtheRevolutionaryWar,GeorgeWashington.Presidency1.ikeGeorgeWashington,Grantbecamepresidentalthoughhedidnotreallyseektheposition.ButRepublicanPartyleadersrealizedthattheformergeneralwasverypopular.AndtheyknewthatGrantopposedthepoliciesofthepresidentatthetime,AndrewJohnson.SotheRepublicansnominatedGrantastheircandidatein1868.Hewoneasily.ButGrant'spopularityandabilityasamilitaryleaderdidnotmakehimasuccessfulpresident.GranttriedtoworkforthepoliticalandcivilrightsofAfrican-Americanszmanyofwhomhadbeenenslaved.OneofGrant'smostimportantactswastosupportthe15thAmendmenttotheU.S.Constitution.ThemeasuregaveAfrican-Americanmentherighttovote.Atthesametime,Granttriedtogivestatescontrolovertheirownlaws.SozsometimesheusedthepowerofthefederalgovernmenttoprotecttherightsofAfrican-Americans.AndhesometimesletstatesuseviolencetopreventAfrican-Americansfromexercisingtheirrights.GrantalsospokeabouttreatingNativeAmericanswithgreaterrespect.Heusedgovernmentresourcestohelpnativepeoplebecomefarmers.Butothergovernmentpolicieshelpedwhitesettlerscontinuetopushtribesofftheirlands.FewNativeAmericanssawtheirlivesreallyimproveunderGrant.Finally,hisadministrationsufferedbecauseofcorruptgovernmentofficials.Granthimselfdidnotgetrichfromtheiractions.Butheremainedloyaltopeoplewhoworkedforhimzevenwhentheyprofitedfromtheirposition.Asaresultofallthis,manyAmericanslostinterestinReconstructionandlostfaithinthefeder