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| Date | December 4, 1871 (1871-12-04) |
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| Venue | House Chamber,United States Capitol |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′23″N77°00′32″W / 38.88972°N 77.00889°W /38.88972; -77.00889 |
| Type | State of the Union Address |
| Participants | Ulysses S. Grant Schuyler Colfax James G. Blaine |
| Format | Written |
| Previous | 1870 State of the Union Address |
| Next | 1872 State of the Union Address |
The1871State of the Union address was delivered by the 18thpresident of the United StatesUlysses S. Grant to the42nd United States Congress on December 4, 1871. President Grant highlighted the nation's prosperity and emphasized the enforcement of federal laws. He commended the peaceful resolution of disputes withGreat Britain through theTreaty of Washington and noted progress in relations withGermany,Italy, and other nations.[1]
Grant addressed challenges in domestic policy, particularly the suppression ofKu Klux Klan violence inSouth Carolina under theKu Klux Act, justifying his suspension ofhabeas corpus and the arrest of hundreds of individuals involved in unlawful conspiracies. He also reported a reduction of the national debt by $86 million and proposed tax reforms, including lower tariffs and the elimination of most internal taxes except those on alcohol and tobacco.[1]
Grant reiterated his support for the Indian Peace Policy and proposed territorial government for Native American lands to safeguard treaty rights. He called for improvements in civil service, infrastructure, and the postal system, urging federal support for telegraphic expansion and the rebuilding of government facilities destroyed in theGreat Chicago Fire.[1]
Grant concluded by advocating for reconciliation in the post-Civil War South, including removing political disabilities under theFourteenth Amendment, and stressed the importance of education and economic stability for national progress.[1]
| Preceded by | State of the Union addresses 1871 | Succeeded by |
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