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Primary sourceSpeech4 December 1871

Third State of the Union Address

Ulysses S. Grant · 4 December 1871

Grant's 1871 annual message to Congress discussing the nation's affairs during Reconstruction.

Grant's own annual message to Congress during his presidency, reflecting Reconstruction-era concerns.

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What it is

This is the text of Ulysses S. Grant's third annual message to Congress, delivered on 4 December 1871. In it, he reports on the enforcement of laws, national disasters, and foreign relations during his presidency.

Why it matters

The address shows how Grant communicated with Congress during the Reconstruction era, a time of rebuilding and political tension following the Civil War. His description of 'general prosperity' alongside disasters gives insight into the challenges his administration faced.

Look closer

  • Why might Grant emphasize that laws have been enforced 'according to their spirit and intent'?
  • What does his mention of foreign nations' sympathy suggest about international relations at the time?
  • What topics might this address leave out that were important to Americans in 1871?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ulysses S Grant on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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