Ulysses S. Grant led the Union to victory in the Civil War, which put an end to slavery. He spoke very little about his personal views, and in letters written to friends and family he barely mentioned the intuition of slavery, but we do know that Grant owned one slave before the Civil War, and his wife grew up with slavery and had a few of her own as an adult. Grant is quoted as saying “I never was an Abolitionist, not even what could be called anti slavery, but I try to judge fairly and honestly and it become patent to my mind early in the rebellion that the North and South could never live at peace with each other except as one nation, and that without Slavery.” He understands that in order for America to survive as one nation, slavery must cease to exist. When he was president, he gave newly freed black men the right to vote with the ratification of the 15th amendment in 1870. He also limited the activities of terrorist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan.