jan 1, 1872 - Grant reelected; Credit Mobilier scnadal emerges

Description:

Election: Revolt in Republican party occurs
-led by classic liberalists (free trade, small gov, limiting voting to men with education and property, laissez faire after rise in federal power during civil war and reconstruction[such groups never ended federal polices like protective tariff or national banking system like they'd hoped])
-rolled back Reconstruction
-couldn't block Grant's renomination for presidency in 1872-> Liberal Republicans formed and their candidate was Horace Greeley (abolitionist, veretran reformer, published NY newspaper)
-Democrats also nominated Greeley, who was a horrible campaigner

Grant wins

-Liberal Republican's message had impacted Democrats (limited gov, restricted voting rights to white men with education, reconciliation with ex-confederates) who had troubles being seen as a legit national party

-liberalism crossed party lines, turned many northerners against reconstruction


Grant's term:
-lots of scandals like Credit Mobilier (A sham corporation set up by shareholders in the Union Pacific Railroad to secure government grants at an enormous profit. Organizers of the scheme protected it from investigation by providing gifts of its stock to powerful members of Congress)(news of the scandal came out in September 1782 when Grant was campaigning)(tainted VP and Grant's running mate named Henry WIlson)(after, Congress censured two republican congressmen who had benefitted from the scheme)
Whiskey Ring: (a network of liquor distillers and treasury agents who defrauded the government of millions of dollars of excise taxes on whiskey, led by Grant's Private Secretary name Babcock, who Grant stood by despite risk of perjuring himself)

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