what did ulysses s grant do

Ulysses S. Grant was a prominent American general and the 18th President of the United States. He is best known for leading the Union Armies to victory over the Confederacy in the American Civil War and later serving two terms as president from 1869 to 1877. Grant's military strategy helped defeat the Confederacy, notably by capturing Vicksburg and coordinating offensives in multiple theaters that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House. As president, Grant worked to stabilize the post-war economy, supported Reconstruction efforts, vigorously protected African American civil rights, and created the United States Department of Justice to combat the Ku Klux Klan. He also signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, guaranteeing equal rights for Black Americans in public places. His administration faced scandals, but he is credited with significant civil rights advancements and restoring the Union after the war. Grant also signed legislation to establish Yellowstone as the first national park and completed the first transcontinental railroad during his presidency.