Grant And Lee: A Study In Contrasts Essay

In recent years, at that place has been bounteous thesis geting prevalent harmonise and General lee(prenominal) in contrasts. No wonder, because they are about of the most iconic figures in the new history of the United States. Both became military under the imperativeness of family circumstances. Both were outstanding participants in the civilised war. But the recollection of Ulysses open is passed on from propagation to generation while tombst mavens to Robert leeward are now threatened with demolition. Let us turn to comparison and study in contrasts lives of Bruce Catton Grant and Robert Lee.Ulysses C. Grant was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. Already at an archeozoic age, the young world-wide was helping his novice on the farm. After visiting a lot of occult schools, his father decided that he should make a soldier career. Thanks to the petition of Congressman doubting Thomas L. Hemmer, Grant was admitted to the military academy in tungsten Point , New York. Grant obeyed his fathers wishes, non experiencing much enthusiasm for the servicemen.In 1843, he received the patent of an incumbent and started serving in the quaternary Infantry Regiment of the United States. By the time of war against Mexico (1846-48), comrades remarks about the excessive use of alcohol by Grant belong. After numerous warnings from his superiors, he resigned in the summer of 1854.Although his wifes family had slaves, he found as right thing to fight on the side of the union. Soon Grant for his victory in the military field was appointed general of the brigade. After under his command the Confederates from Kentucky were forced out, capital of Nebraska conferred on him the rank of Major-General. Grant was distinguished by logic, calculation, and perseverance in conducting military trading operations, and his troops showed a postgraduate fighting morale. After the Civil fight, Grant retained the main command of the US Army. In 1866, Congress confe rred on him the rank of general.It was the war that gave Grant his place in life. Being a War Minister, he has accumulated extensive management experience, although he was repeatedly reproached for incompetence required for the highest state office. In the presidency, general saw an opport harmony to maintain a war victory by restoring the political unity of the state and guaranteeing civil rights.Grant won elections in 1868 thanks to the program that promised reconstruction of the South, suffrage for liberated slaves and economic recovery of the southern states. But general in choosing ministers and advisers relied chiefly on the persons he knew the top side of service. Promising much, Grant, however, was satisfied with the small. During his second term, no measures were taken to resolve social and political problems between races, so conservative forces in the South gained the upper hand. Also, a general refused his initial striving to reform the storage locker of officials, has managed to provide posts only if to his closest friends.The extent of corruption and bribery cases surpassed all previously known. Criticism against Grant grew. The most lasting influence was panic of 1873 when banks were closed, and the timid efforts of the ministry could not improve sad situation. Mismanagement, embezzlement and abundant speculation accelerated economic downturn. After the end of the presidential term, Grant departed from politics. The hero of the Civil War died on July 23, 1885, in New York.Despite military successes, in the history of the US, General Grant refers to weak presidents. He was considered as a passive politician who followed the directions of Congress, instead of implementing his own ideas. Venality represents his government in an unfavorable light.His policy towards the southern states is often assessed as half-hearted, as Grant nevertheless tried to shelter the civil rights of the black population. One gets an impression that he perceived his p residency as a sympathetic of vestibule to political rest. In combination with naivet, such attitude created a danger of manipulation. Therefore, a general didnt justify the hopes that were placed on him.Robert Edward Lee was born in 1807, in Stradford, Virginia. As his father soon had serious financial problems, in fact, mother raised the future general. If Grants batch was determined by his father, then Robert Lees life path was connected with economic difficulties. The only way out in similar situation was to enter the famous military academy West Point.Robert Lee, who was not only diligence in his studies but also a great physical force, could obtain an ideal officer in the American army. And he became it. While studying at the academy, Lee was one of the best Cadets, not having received a single penalty from a higher command. After conclusion he was assigned to engineering troops.But the career of a war engineer did not portion out the desired advancement in titles. In add ition, service in the outback was burdened by an officer who could not fully engage in his family. In the end, Robert managed to achieve transfer to cavalry. By this time he was already 48 years old. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln invited Colonel Lee to lead the land forces of federal government, as conditions in the Southern States heated up to the limit. Herewith, Robert was regarded as a convinced opponent of slavery. However, being a native of the South, a colonel wrote a petition for resignation, stressing that he was not able to participate in the assault of his homeland.The general, who is seen as a symbol of militant slave-owners, for many years kept a large family for retiring state salaries, and acquired slaves, only obtaining an inheritance at the age of 50 years. While the commander of the army of the North, General Ulysses Grant was a slaveholder. His laborers were freed only after the amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery came into force in 1865.Colonel Lee gl um to Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederation, and offered him his services as a soldier. So, Robert rose to the generals epaulets, engaged in the intromission of a regular army of the southern states. Lee participated in the planning of numerous military operations and then headed the Army of Northern Virginia.Commanded by general, the troops achieved impressive success. Yielding to the northerners in the strength and preparedness, Lee defeated them after defeat. His name has turned into a nightmare for his enemies. Robert Lee enjoyed great respect from the opponents. In particular, Ulysses Grant called him Ace Peak. But in 1865 Lees army was forced to capitulate.The federal government amnestied Robert Lee. He died in 1870, until the end of his life engaged in the organization of assistance to spring soldiers of the Confederation. For a long time, merits of General Lee were recognized by a lot of US patriots, irrespective of political beliefs. The situation began to c hange not so long ago when in America there was a left-liberal coup, expressed on a symbolic level in a rigid refusal of memory of all representatives of the Confederation.Thus, as we can see, General Grant and General Lee study in contrasts sum-up show that they were in the best light only in the military field. Of course, Ulysses proved to be luckier than Robert. But, as we know, the truth is always on the side of the winners. Lees reluctance to fight against the southern states testifies to his high moral qualities. After all, he did not advocate the extension of slavery, but for the independence of the South. Whereas Grant refers to the compositors case of people who try to transfer their successes from one sphere to another, without sufficient knowledge and skills. In this regard, General Lee is more honest, because he was engaged in one thing, not pretending to be a novice of politics.