Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant (http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/ulysses-s-grant-national-historic-site-2.jpg)

Ulysses was born on April 27, 1822, and died on July 23, 1885. He was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio. Ulysses helped America win the Civil War and stop slavery. An interesting fact about Ulysses S. Grant was that his real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant. This war hero was important to America because without him leading us in war it is possible that we would have lost the war which could cause us to still have slaves today. I think without Ulysses this world would be a lot different than it is now.

There are many things that Ulysses did that I think makes him a hero. I feel that one important thing he did was when he lead us through the Civil War. During this war he proved how loyal he was to this country by fighting in battle. In fact he wanted to serve for his country so bad that he legally changed his name so that he can fight in the war due to a mix up. He was so courageous in the war that President Lincoln said, "I can't spare this man--he fights." He even promoted him to General-in-Chief. Ulysses had a huge impact on the lives of African Americans because he helped to end slavery and show that the color of their outside does not effect the inside. This is why he meets my definition of a hero, he made a good impression on people, made a good impression on soldiers and he helped the world by stopping slavery.

Another thing that Ulysses did that made him a hero was when he made it into office. As President, Ulysses controlled over the Government much as he had controlled the Army. He even brought part of his Army to the White House. He was thought of as an honest and courageous man. He was admired by many people. Like most presidents he had some flaws but it was not anything too large. He had some people that disliked him but his bravery and courage got him through some tough times. This proves he is my hero because he made a good impression on people and he was admired by many citizens of America.

Although Ulysses was a well respected man he did have people that disliked him. For example, the South. They disliked Ulysses because he was fighting to end slavery. However, the South liked slavery and didn't want it to end. So the South tried to kill Ulysses because they knew that he was a general. They were not successful and Ulysses led his soldiers to fight and won the Civil War, making all of the African Americans be free to have a life that wasn't only hard work. This shows how Ulysses was brave because he overcame the threats and went on to win the war and become the president of the United States.

What is the person's legacy? A legacy is something you leave behind that will benefit others. Ulysses had a large legacy that affected many people today. First, his war legacy. After winning the Civil War all of the slaves were free, leaving a large legacy for African Americans everywhere. His battle made a large chunk of history and kids learn about him in school or on their own as I am now. He also has a large legacy in the White House where he remains the 18th president. He managed to keep the country steady by making civil rights legislation and by keeping the United States out of war with England and Spain. Only a true hero has a legacy.