Credit Mobilier Scandal

Credit Mobilier Scandal History for kids: President Grant and the Scandals of his Administration
The Credit Mobilier Scandal was the second of a series of scandals that rocked the Grant administration. There was never the slightest doubt as to the personal honesty of Ulysses S. Grant but there were grave doubts as to some of his decisions whilst in office and his judgment in making various appointments, refer to Grantism. The Credit Mobilier Scandal occurred in the post Civil War period at the end of the Reconstruction Era, a time which was marked by widespread political corruption and an extension of the infamous Spoils System. The Union Pacific Railroad and the Credit Mobilier construction company was responsible for the building of the eastern portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Facts for kids
Interesting Credit Mobilier Scandal facts for kids are detailed below. The history of Credit Mobilier Scandal is told in a factual sequence consisting of a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the history and events of the Credit Mobilier Scandal.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Facts for kids

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 1: The Union Pacific Railroad and the construction company were involved in the building of the eastern portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 2: The story erupted in 1872 although its scandal's origins dated back to 1864 during the Lincoln presidency, when the Union Pacific Railroad was chartered by the federal government and the Credit Mobilier construction company was established.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 3: Oakes Ames, was a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts, and was also the head of a company called the "Credit Mobilier". The company had been formed to build the Union Pacific Railroad.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 4: The federal government had granted the railroad generous loans and contracts for its construction

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 5: It later emerged that the building of the transcontinental railroad was fraudulently financed for approximately $50 million more than was necessary.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 6: Oakes Ames was scared that Congress would investigate the finances of the company or pass laws that might hurt the construction enterprise,

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 7: In 1868 Congressman Oakes Ames had distributed shares of stock in the construction company and cash bribes to other congressmen during the Johnson presidency.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 8: Rumors surrounding the activities of Oakes Ames and other prominent government officials started to  circulate

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 9: Oakes Ames wrote a letter to Colonel Henry S. McComb, another railroad entrepreneur and associate, stating that he had placed the stock "where it will produce the most good to us" and Ames subsequently forwarded a list of Congressmen who had received or were to receive shares.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 10: Ames and McComb then fell out. McComb leaked the letters to Charles A. Dana a newspaper owner.

Continued...

Credit Mobilier Scandal Facts for kids

Credit Mobilier Scandal for kids
The info about the Credit Mobilier Scandal provides interesting facts and important information about this important event that occured during the presidency of the 18th President of the United States of America.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Facts for kids
Interesting history and the Credit Mobilier Scandal Facts for kids are continued below.

Credit Mobilier Scandal Facts for kids

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 11: The story was eventually broken by the Sun, the New York newspaper owned by Charles A. Dana, during the 1872 presidential campaign, when Ulysses S. Grant was running for re-election. The story became an issue of the presidential campaign

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 13: The important and influential men implicated in the allegations of bribery and corruption included:

● Henry Wilson the Vice presidential candidate
● Schyler Colfax, the incumbent vice president
● James G. Blaine, the Speaker of the House,
● James Garfield, Member of the House of Representatives, who would later become a future US President
● Senator James W. Patterson of New Hampshire
● Representative James Brooks of New York

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 15: The investigation ended in 1873 and found that found that the company had given shares to more than thirty representatives of both political parties

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 17: Ames and Brooks were censured for using their political influence for personal financial gain

Credit Mobilier Scandal Fact 20: The punishment of Ames and Brooks was incredibly lenient, there were no prosecutions, they basically recieved a public 'slapped wrist"

Credit Mobilier Scandal Facts for kids

Credit Mobilier Scandal - President Ulysses Grant Video
The article on the Credit Mobilier Scandal provides an overview of one of the Important issues of his presidential term in office. The following Ulysses Grant video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 18th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877.

Credit Mobilier Scandal

● Interesting Facts about Credit Mobilier Scandal for kids and schools
● Definition of the Credit Mobilier Scandal in US history
● Facts about the Credit Mobilier Scandal
● Ulysses Grant Presidency from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877
● Fast, fun, Credit Mobilier Scandal about Important events in his presidency
● Foreign & Domestic policies of President Ulysses Grant
● Ulysses Grant Presidency and Credit Mobilier Scandal for schools, homework, kids and children