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Whiskey Ring Scandal History for kids: President Grant and the Scandals of his
Administration
The Whiskey Ring Scandal
was one 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 Whiskey Ring 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 Whiskey Ring
scandal defrauded the government of large sums of money with the
help of the government officials. President Grant wished to have a
thorough investigation, and said, "Let no guilty man escape."
Whiskey Ring Scandal Facts for kids
Interesting Whiskey Ring Scandal facts for kids are detailed below. The history of Whiskey Ring 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 Whiskey Ring
Scandal.
Whiskey Ring
Scandal
Facts for kids
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 1: Whiskey makers in St.
Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago and other cities conspired
with revenue officials to evade millions of dollars in
liquor taxes.
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 2: The conspiracy was
centered in St. Louis where it was headed by John
McDonald, the Treasury Department’s supervisor of
internal revenue for the St. Louis area
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 3: John McDonald was a
friend of President Grant and an old army buddy
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 4: The conspirators
bribed Internal Revenue officials and politicians in
Washington in order to keep liquor taxes for themselves
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 5: Bribes were
distributed in Washington to protect the conspirators
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 6: Some of these illegal
funds were also used to finance Republican political
campaigns, including that of President Ulysses S. Grant,
although the President was not involved with the
conspiracy
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 7: Bribery and
corruption was rampant in US politics during this time
due to the widespread adoption of the
Spoils System
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 8: The Spoils System
reached astounding proportions in the administration of
President Grant
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 9: The bribery and
corruption of the conspiracy was public knowledge but
the conspirators were considered unassailable because of
the strong political connections of the men involved.
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 10: Benjamin H. Bristow,
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, was determined to break
the conspiracy and mounted a secret operation to bring
the conspirators to justice
Continued...
Whiskey Ring
Scandal
Facts for kids
Whiskey Ring Scandal
for kids
The info about the
corruption 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.
Whiskey Ring Scandal Facts for kids
Interesting history and the Whiskey Ring Scandal Facts for kids are
continued below.
Whiskey Ring
Scandal
Facts for kids
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 11: President Grant
backed Benjamin H. Bristow's investigation, and said,
"Let no guilty man escape."
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 12: The investigation into the fraud was
kept secret so that evidence could be collected without
alerting the people suspected of being involved
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 13: In May 1875
Benjamin H. Bristow
ordered the investigators to act. Suspects were arrested
and distilleries were seized
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 14: The secret investigation resulted in
238 indictments and 110 convictions
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 15: Orville E. Babcock, President Grant's
private secretary, was indicted in the conspiracy but
was acquitted after the president testified to his
innocence.
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 16: Allegations and rumors spread that
the illegally held liquor tax money was to be used in
the Republican Party’s campaign for the re-election of
President Grant
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 17: President Grant was not implicated in
the scandal but his reputation was damaged.
Whiskey Ring Scandal
Fact 18: Over 3 million dollars of liquor
taxes were recovered
Whiskey Ring
Scandal
Facts for kids
Whiskey Ring Scandal - President Ulysses Grant Video
The article on the Whiskey Ring 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.
Whiskey Ring Scandal
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Interesting Facts about Whiskey Ring Scandal for kids and schools
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Definition of the Whiskey Ring Scandal in US history
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Facts about the liquor fraud
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Ulysses Grant Presidency from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877
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Fast, fun, facts about the corruption
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Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Ulysses Grant
● Ulysses Grant Presidency
and liquor corruption for schools, college,
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