Belknap Bribery Scandal History for kids: President Grant and the Scandals of his
Administration
The
Belknap Bribery Scandal
was one of a series of incidents that shook the Grant
administration.
There was never any doubt as to the honesty of Ulysses S.
Grant but the scandals gave rise to doubts about his
decision making and judgment in making some political appointments -
refer to
Grantism. The Belknap Bribery Scandal
took place during 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.
Belknap Bribery Scandal Facts for kids
Interesting Belknap Bribery Scandal facts for kids are detailed below. The history of Belknap Bribery 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 Belknap Bribery
Scandal.
Belknap
Bribery
Scandal
Facts for kids
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 1:
William Worth Belknap was a lawyer and a friend of
Grant. He had served as Major General in the American
Civil War
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 2: He had been appointed Internal
Revenue tax collector in Iowa by President Johnson after
the Civil War and remained in this position until
President Ulysses Grant appointed him to head the War
Department in 1869.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 3: He had held his cabinet post for
nearly eight years from October 25, 1869 – March 2, 1876
before the scandal erupted
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 4: He was known for his extravagant
lifestyle and giving expensive parties. People wondered
how he could afford the luxuries on his $8000 a year
salary
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 5: Political corruption was rife and a
House of Representatives’ committee started to
investigate the activities of the U.S. Secretary of War
and his luxurious lifestyle
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 6: On February 29, 1876, Congress
launched an extensive investigation run by Hiester
Clymer
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 7: The committee uncovered evidence of
widespread corruption in which it became clear that
William Belknap had accepted bribes from companies with
licenses to trade on the reservations of many Native
American Indian tribes.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 8: Belknap had been given sole authority
to appoint Indian post-traderships by Congress
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 9: He abused the power of his position
and accepted illicit kickbacks or bribes in exchange for
making lucrative Indian tradership appointments
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 10: The corruption had started in 1870
when he (and his first and then second wife) took
quarterly payments for the Fort Sill "tradership"
position awarded to Caleb Marsh and a sutler called John
Evans. Caleb Marsh gave kickbacks to the Belknaps
totally of $20,000.
Continued...
Belknap
Bribery
Scandal
Facts for kids
Belknap Bribery Scandal
for kids
The info about the Belknap Bribery 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.
Belknap Bribery Scandal Facts for kids
Interesting history and the Belknap Bribery Scandal Facts for kids are
continued below.
Belknap
Bribery
Scandal
Facts for kids
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 11: Fort Sill, in Oklahoma Indian
Territory, afforded a highly lucrative military
contract. Belknap went on to empower the traderships
even further by giving them a virtual monopoly over
trade.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 12: Sutlers, men who sold provisions to
the soldiers, were appointed to operate in the Military
and Indian traderships
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 13: The US Soldiers stationed at forts
operated by Belknap appointed sutlers could only buy
supplies through the authorized tradership. This
monopoly enabled the sutlers to charge highly inflated
prices for the necessary supplies
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 14: The sutlers also made even more
profits from Native American Indians by selling rifles
as well as basic supplies.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 15: Rumors of the corruption led to a
political scandal. The leader of the investigating
Committee, Hiester Clymer, was a staunch Democrat who
vehemently opposed Republican Reconstruction of the
Grant administration
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 16: Caleb Marsh gave evidence that
Belknap had accepted payments in return for trading
partnerships between himself and the sutler John Evans.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 17: In light of the evidence stacked
against his Secretary of War, President Grant asked for
his resignation, which was given
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 18: Despite his resignation from the
cabinet the Committee started impeachment proceedings.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 19: As he resigned before the Impeachment
trial (as would Nixon in later years) he was acquitted
on the grounds that the Senate lacked jurisdiction after
his resignation had been accepted. No civil charges were
made against him.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
Fact 20: He returned to his former job as a
lawyer and left the political arena. His actions
creating the
Indian Ring had undermined and
damaged the reputation of the president.
Belknap
Bribery
Scandal
Facts for kids
Belknap Bribery Scandal - President Ulysses Grant Video
The article on the Bribery Scandal provides an overview of one of the
important events 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.
Belknap Bribery Scandal
●
Interesting Facts about the Indian Ring for kids and schools
●
Definition and Summary of the Belknap Bribery Scandal in US history
●
Facts about the Bribery Scandal - the Indian Ring
●
Ulysses Grant Presidency from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877
●
Fast, fun facts about the Bribery Scandal - the Indian Ring
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Ulysses Grant
● Ulysses Grant Presidency and
Belknap Bribery Scandal or the - the Indian Ring for schools,
homework, kids and children |