Comparison
Vision, Value and Voice
- Motivates those who follow them
- Respect each other
- Safeguards outlooks and beliefs
Background
- Different social classes
- West Point Academy
Military Experience
Civil War
Mexican-American War
General Ulysses S. Grant
- Motivated
- United
- Proud
- Caring
“Watching their commander, Grant’s officers followed suit”
General Robert E. Lee
At St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond,Virginia, an African-American freedman stunned white parishioners by
“General Lee was beginning to mount his horse when Grant stepped back, stood at attention, and saluted him by tipping his hat.”
breaking tradition and being the first person to approach and kneel at the chancel rail to receive Communion. While other whites hesitated, the legendary general approached the rail and knelt beside the African-American man.
Robert E. Lee helped to bring about healing by setting an example for others.He swore allegiance to the United States and, as a result, brought tens of thousands of former Confederate soldiers back into the Union.
"One minister captured a powerful and popular theme of Grant's life: "By a single act General Grant put himself above the wisest of American statesmen. That act was the terms he offered to Lee for the surrender of his Army. In a few, clear, simple lines [he] solved at once the problem of peace, and the possible unity and fraternity of the American people."
Some years later, after he had become the president of Washington college in Lexington, Virginia, Lee heard a professor denigrate General Grant's character and shot back, "Sir, if you ever speak again disrespectfully of General Grant in my presence, either you or I will sever his connection with this University!"
Contrast
Conclusion
- Lee- thought that the old money and aristocracy would survive after the war and overpowering in American life, came from money and prestige saw a hierarchical system as normal
- Grant- son of a tanner on the Western frontier, opposite of Lee grew up in the country and worked hard, privilege was only earned, not given, nationalist
- Lee- Virginia Aristocrat, Grant- Ohio worker
- Grant represented the emerging modern man of society tied to hard work, Lee represented old man of American society
How did the vision, value and voice effect the outcome and surrender of the war?
Grant vs. Lee
Vision, Values & Voice
Works Cited
- Stallard, M.L. (2007). Fired up or burned out. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
- Waugh, J. (2005). " Pageantry of Woe": The Funeral of Ulysses S. Grant. Civil War History, 51(2), 151-174.
- Ulysses S. Grant. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/ulysses-s-grant.html
- Robert E. Lee. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html
- Catton, Bruce. “Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts.” The American Story. Ed. Garet Garrett. Chicago, Regenery, 1955.
- Margie Waguespeck’s Webpage. 26 November 2003. Amarillo College Website. Web. 4 January 2004.
Grant
Lee
- Grant- showed respect and appreciation for his enemies
- Led by example, his soldiers were united motivated and proud
- Grant looked at the preservation of the union following the surrender and shared ideas
- Lee- saw himself as above his soldiers
- Lee was more concerned with the preservation of the south
Background
Lee
Grant
• Born in Virginia
• West Point
• Mexican-American War
• Declined Union
• Civil War battles
• Surrendered at Appomattox
• Died on October 12, 1870
• Born in Ohio
• West Point
• Mexican-American War
• Civil War Union
• Civil War battles
• Lieutenant General
• President of the United States
• Died on July 23, 1885
Thesis
Although the similarities in vision, value, and voice of Generals Lee and Grant distinguished these men as unique leaders, their fundamental differences impacted their armies and possibly the outcome of the war.
The Appomattox Court House
Grant vs. Lee : A Comparison
By: Alex Colbeck, AJ Johnson, Robert Olson , Denver Mead & Abby Terhaar