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 12: The story was a
political 'hot potato' and the names of the other
officials started to be implicated in the allegations of
bribery and corruption.
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 14: In 1872 the Senate
started and investigation into the story and the
politicians who had been implicated.
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 16: Only two politicians
were publicly censured: Oakes Ames, the member of the
House of Representatives from Massachusetts and
Congressional Representative James Brooks of New York
Credit Mobilier Scandal
Fact 17: Ames and Brooks were
censured for using their political influence for
personal financial gain
Credit Mobilier Scandal
Fact 18: On February 28, 1873
James Brooks was censured by the House of
Representatives for attempted bribery
Credit Mobilier Scandal
Fact 19: On February 28, 1873,
the House passed a resolution formally censuring Ames
"in seeking to secure congressional attention to the
affairs of a corporation in which he was interested, and
whose interest directly depended upon the legislation of
Congress, by inducing members of Congress to invest in
the stocks of said corporation."
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
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Interesting Facts about Credit Mobilier Scandal for kids and schools
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Definition of the Credit Mobilier Scandal in US history
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Facts about the Credit Mobilier Scandal
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Ulysses Grant Presidency from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877
●
Fast, fun, Credit Mobilier Scandal
about Important events in his presidency
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Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Ulysses Grant
● Ulysses Grant Presidency and
Credit Mobilier Scandal for schools,
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