Family or Country: Grant’s Difficult Decision (Senior Ranger Activity)

Instructions: Ulysses S. Grant faced a dilemma at the beginning of the Civil War - to serve his country, or remain with his family in Galena, Illinois. Complete this activity to find out more about Ulysses and maintaining family ties during the war. Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow. To learn more about Ulysses and his family please visit our People page.

This activity is designed for adults completing the Senior Ranger Program but all ages are welcome!

Map of the United States circa 1861. Inset: Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant

In early 1861, the United States is falling apart. Southern states are leaving the Union and are fighting to form their own country. In April, the Civil War begins when Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter. For many people in the Union, this insult to the flag must be avenged. Ulysses finds himself faced with a decision. He believed he was morally obligated to serve his country. Grant was educated at West Point, fought for the US in Mexico and served in the US army for eleven years as an officer. Shortly before the start of the Civil War, Grant had left White Haven and moved to Galena, Illinois to work in his father's leather goods store with his brothers. It is not Ulysses's idea of a perfect job but it was stable and provided opportunities for advancement. He was able to provide for his family while keeping them together.


1. Re-entering the army would mean re-entering a life full of risks. Obviously at this early stage of the war Ulysses didn't know he would eventually command Lincoln's armies, emerge a national hero and be elected president. As Grant was pondering his future, what risks both personal and professional, did Grant take to rejoin the United States Army?

2. Once again without her husband by her side, Julia faces a daunting task to raise her four young children. What are some of the challenges she faced? In what ways does her life change in the next four years of the Civil War?

3. The Grant family went from being obscure to famous very quickly. Ulysses's military victories drew him and his family into the public spotlight. How do you think that changed their lives? If your life dramatically changed putting you in the public spotlight, how might you balance the pressures of fame with maintaining privacy for you and your family?