Coexistence Corner

Grant and Civil Rights

By Nate Feldman

The first thing that made Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency remarkable was his advocacy for civil rights and equality in the United States. Early during his first term as President, the 15^th amendment, which gave African Americans the right to vote, was ratified by the U.S. Congress, which at the time was largely controlled by Grant’s Republican party. Andrew Glass in a 2016 article for Politico states that at the time, President Grant claimed this achievement, “completes the greatest civil change and constitutes the most important event that has occurred since the nation came to life.” (“U.S. adopts 15^th Amendment, March 30, 1870”)