Question

Discuss three scandals of the Grant Administration. State which one you believe is the worse, and explain how these scandals hurt the Presidency and Reconstruction.

Answer 1

Answer)

• Following are the three scandals of Grant administration

1. Ney York custom house ring-Ney York custom collected highest imports revenue in 1871,an enquiry found that two collectors had been indulging in corruption who were allowing local private merchants to keep unclaimed goods in the warehouses for bribes,President Grant's secretaries were also indulged in this corruption scandal.
2. Bonus scandal-In March,1873,congress members were given a raise,however along with raise was a secret bonus of $5,000 for their previous 2 terms which was later exposed and thereby amount was returned to treasury,had it not been the case Government would have fallen short on funds for following year.
3. Whiskey ring-A coordinated tax corrupption scandal wherein secretaries of President and certain internal revenue officers were also involved was exposed by treasury secretary Bristow where fraudelent officers allowed distillers to evade taxes for profit sharing from such gains.

In my opinion whiskey ring scandal was the worst as state revenue or in other words revenue meant to be spent on bettering lives of citizens was being stolen by officers.

These scandals eroded the trust in presidency,there was ever present unstability along with many reshuffles in cabinet,with ramifications on public welfare as well,in terms of reconstruction such acts agin eroded the trust which was meant to be a uniting force in a country recovering from civil war,it slowed down pace of reforms as administration was getting hit by scandals after scandals and in process delaying reconstruction 's progress.

Answer is complete.Thank you!