Ulysses S. Grant Worksheets
Do you want to save dozens of hours in time? Get your evenings and weekends back? Be able to teach about Ulysses S. Grant to your students?
Our worksheet bundle includes a fact file and printable worksheets and student activities. Perfect for both the classroom and homeschooling!
Resource Examples
Click any of the example images below to view a larger version.
Fact File
Student Activities
Table of Contents
Add a header to begin generating the table of contents
Summary
- Early Life and Education
- Military Leadership
- Political Career
- Death and Legacy
Key Facts And Information
Let’s know more about Ulysses S. Grant!
Ulysses S. Grant was one of the most important figures in 19th-century American history. He rose from a humble background to become a top general during the Civil War, then later served two terms as the 18th President of the United States. Although often criticised during and after his time in office, more recent views have portrayed him in a more favourable light, especially for his efforts in civil rights and maintaining the country’s unity after a brutal conflict.
Ulysses S. Grant
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION OF ULYSSES GRANT
- Ulysses Grant was born on 27 April 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio, and was named Hiram Ulysses Grant. His father, Jesse Root Grant, worked as a tanner, and his mother, Hannah Simpson Grant, managed the household. Young Grant wasn’t too keen on the tanning business, but he had a real knack for handling horses. That calmness around animals showed a kind of quiet confidence he would later become known for in military life.
- In 1839, he got into West Point, the military school, because of a recommendation from a congressman his dad knew. There was a mix-up with his name, so they registered him as ‘Ulysses S. Grant’ and he just went with it. The ‘S’ didn’t stand for anything. While Grant wasn’t top of his class, graduating 21st out of 39 in 1843, he was especially skilled with horses and had a reputation for being dependable.
- When the US went to war with Mexico, Ulysses Grant was sent out to fight. He served under big-name generals like Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. Although he thought the war itself was unjust, he fought bravely and gained experience that helped shape his thinking on leadership and military tactics. He learnt about logistics, planning, and how to keep men together under pressure.
- After the war, things didn’t go too well. He got stationed in isolated posts on the West Coast, far from his wife Julia Dent and their children — first in California, then Oregon. Lonely and broke, he started drinking too much, and in 1854, he left the army. What came next wasn’t great. Civilian life wasn’t easy either — he tried farming and real estate but struggled financially, often depending on his wife’s family. It looked like he wasn’t going anywhere until the Civil War started.
MILITARY LEADERSHIP
- Once the war broke out in 1861, Grant jumped back into army life. He helped train volunteers and got put in charge of a regiment. Not long after, he got promoted and took Fort Donelson to Tennessee. When the enemy asked what the surrender terms were, he said ‘unconditional surrender’ which got people’s attention and gave him the nickname ‘Unconditional Surrender Grant’.
- Another major battle came at Shiloh in April 1862. It was a rough one with lots of deaths, surprise attacks and total chaos. Grant’s side took a beating at first, but he didn’t panic. The next day, he pushed back and won. While some people blamed him for the high number of deaths, President Lincoln backed him up, saying, ‘I can’t spare this man; he fights’.
- In 1863, he led a huge victory at Vicksburg, Mississippi. After clever manoeuvres and fighting, the city surrendered on 4 July, giving the Union control over the Mississippi River and cutting the Confederacy in two. Combined with the victory at Gettysburg, this marked a big turning point in the war. As a result, Grant was promoted again and earned more trust from both the public and President Lincoln.
- Later that year, Ulysses Grant went down to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Union troops were trapped. He pulled together different armies and defeated the Confederate forces there. His ability to organise huge attacks across wide areas showed he was actually good at this. In 1864, Lincoln made him General-in-Chief of all Union forces, a rank held only by George Washington before him.
- Grant’s next big challenge was going against Robert E. Lee in the Overland Campaign of Virginia. Unlike past generals, Grant didn’t give up when battles got tough. It caused huge losses on both sides in battles like the Wilderness and Cold Harbor. People were mad about the high casualties, but Grant had a strategy to keep pushing and wear the South down, knowing he could wear the Confederates down.
Lee surrendering to Grant
- Eventually, this strategy paid off during the Siege of Petersburg, which lasted from June 1864 to April 1865.
- By cutting off Lee’s supply lines, Grant forced the Confederates to abandon Richmond, their capital.
- Finally, at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865, Lee gave up.
- Ulysses Grant’s surrender terms were generous — Confederate soldiers were allowed to return home with dignity.
- That gesture helped cool things down and maybe stopped more bloodshed.
- Grant’s leadership was seen by many as the main reason the Union won the war and slavery came to an end.
POLITICAL CAREER OF ULYSSES GRANT
- After the war, Ulysses Grant was so popular it was not surprising he became president in 1869. His presidency focused on Reconstruction — trying to rebuild the South and protect the rights of African Americans. The country was trying to fix itself after the war, and nobody agreed on how to do it.
- One of Grant’s biggest moves was backing the Fifteenth Amendment, which gave Black men the right to vote. He signed laws that let the government go after white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. With the Enforcement Acts, Grant sent federal troops to stop violence and protect Black voters, especially in the South.
- His Justice Department took on the Klan hard — arrested hundreds, broke up the groups and kept elections fair. However, people in the North started losing interest in helping the South. Meanwhile, Southern leaders who didn’t like Grant’s changes started creeping back into power. Grant wanted to keep fighting for civil rights, but the political mood had shifted.
- Grant’s presidency is also known for being full of scandals. People he trusted stole money, cheated taxes and made dirty deals. Grant himself didn’t steal anything, but he wasn’t great at picking honest people to work with him. The Credit Mobilier (a railroad bribery scheme) and Whiskey Ring (a tax evasion operation) scandals were major embarrassments. Grant did fire some people and pushed for justice, but his image was damaged.
- On the economic front, Grant did have some successes. He supported returning to the gold standard and helped pass the Specie Payment Resumption Act of 1875 to fix currency issues. He also tried to reform civil service hiring, though politics often got in the way.
- In terms of foreign affairs, Grant mostly kept the peace. He settled a major disagreement with Britain (called the Alabama Claims) through talks, not war. He also wanted to add the Dominican Republic as a US territory as he thought it would help formerly enslaved people, but Congress said no.
- By the end of his two terms, Grant was tired, and so was the country. He stepped down in 1877 and didn’t fight to stay in office. Although his presidency had its fair share of setbacks, his attempts to defend civil rights and rebuild a broken nation were quite significant. His work gave a foundation for later efforts in justice and equality.
DEATH AND LEGACY OF ULYSSES S. GRANT
- After he left office, Ulysses Grant and his wife Julia went on a world tour. They visited Europe, Asia and the Middle East, meeting kings, generals and citizens. People cheered for him wherever he went. He was still loved, even if his reputation had taken some hits.
- However, when Grant went back to the US, he trusted the wrong business partner and lost almost all his money. Around the same time, doctors found he had throat cancer in 1884. With bills piling up and not much time left, he decided to write his life story.
- He wrote every day, even when it hurt to speak or eat. His friend, the famous writer Mark Twain, helped publish it. Right before he passed on 23 July 1885, he finished the last page. The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant turned out to be a bestseller and are still praised today for their honesty and detailed account of the war.
- His funeral was one of the biggest in US history. He was buried in New York City in a huge tomb that people still visit today. It’s called Grant’s Tomb, and it’s one of the largest in the country. His wife was buried beside him years later.
- For a long time, people judged Grant mainly for the scandals in his presidency, and he was ranked low among US presidents. But more recently, historians have started seeing the full picture. His fight for civil rights, his leadership in war and his loyalty to the country all matter more than people used to say.
- Today, Grant is seen not only as the general who won the Civil War but also as a president who tried to heal the nation and stand up for justice, even when the odds were against him.
- From his humble beginnings to his rise as a top general and then president, Ulysses S. Grant faced numerous challenges, both personal and political. He wasn’t perfect but his efforts to keep the Union together and fight for equality made a lasting impact. While once overlooked or unfairly criticised, Grant’s place in American history is now better understood and more appreciated. His courage, determination and belief in unity still speak to people today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ulysses S. Grant
- Who was Ulysses S. Grant?
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th president of the United States (1869–1877) and a commanding general during the American Civil War. He led the Union Army to victory over the Confederacy.
- What role did Grant play in the Civil War?
Grant served as the top Union general and is best known for leading successful campaigns in the West and accepting the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House in 1865.
- What were some key accomplishments of Grant’s presidency?
His administration worked to stabilise the post-war economy, enforce civil rights laws, and crush the Ku Klux Klan. However, it was also marred by corruption scandals involving members of his cabinet.