Ulysses S. Grant

Illustration of a man's head and shoulders on a slight blue background over blue text

Ulysses S. Grant was President of the United States and by the end of the Civil War Lieutenant General of the Union Army. He served from 1839-1854 as an Officer in the U.S. Military, earning valor in the Mexican-American War, but became a national figure with his service from 1861-1869 as part of the Union Army. During the Civil War, Grant was instrumental in the Capture of Vicksburg and later through repeated assaults on Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s troops was able to force an unconditional surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. These victories catapulted him to the White House where Grant served as the 18th President from 1869-1877. Grant’s Presidency was marred by the slow Reconstruction process of the Southern states. However, his crowning political achievement was the ratification of the 15th amendment that guaranteed federal protection for non-whites to have the right to vote in elections regardless of color, race, or previous condition of servitude. 

This button is part of a set of 31 that were issued as premiums in Cracker Jack.