Understanding Corruption and Scandal During Grant's Presidency

Explore the impact of corruption and scandal on Ulysses Grant's presidency, focusing on Reconstruction, black power, carpetbaggers, scalawags, and the prevalence of fraud in government during that era. Watch informative videos and delve into historical accounts to grasp the implications of dishonesty on Grant's administration.

• Corruption
• Scandal
• Grants Presidency
• Reconstruction
• Fraud

gwynev Follow

Uploaded on Sep 23, 2024 | 0 Views

Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

Presentation Transcript

1. Flip Learning For today s lesson you needed to: TASK: - You will also need to watch video 2 based on the American Reconstruction and answer the questions sent out on email. With a green pen mark your answers (I will read them out to you) and add any information you might be missing. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C roMO7OoYJ0

2. What impact did corruption and scandal have on Grant s presidency? Good learning: Great learning: Even better: Understand Grant s administration Explain what corruption there was during Grant s presidency Evaluate the impact the corruption and scandal had on Grant

3. Grants presidency: overview Before we get started looking in to Grant and his administration, we are going to remind ourselves about who Ulysses Grant is and what happens during his presidency. You are going to watch the following video and you have each been given a set of 9 questions I would like to answer whilst watching it.

4. Grants administration A primary focus of Grant s administration was Reconstruction, and he worked to reconcile the North and South while also attempting to protect the civil rights of newly freed black slaves. While Grant was personally honest, some of his associates were corrupt and his administration was tarnished by various scandals. The cabinet Grant built reflected Grant s own desire to command. Few members of the Cabinet had national stature and few had experience within their appointed areas. Most were mid-level political and financial supporters, rather than political leaders. Grant s choice largely reflect his preference to manage from the top down, as he had commanded the army. He controlled decision making with a small, informal group of advisors (mainly powerful Republican senators). At the lower level and from the autumn of 1867 onwards, southern Republicans had produced the necessary constitutions and in every state, except Virginia, took over the first restored state governments. Republican government in the South frequently depended on federal troops. However, during this time (1867-68) they did have popular support. Some people have argued that that these governments represented the worst elements of southern society- illiterate black people, carpetbaggers and scalawags. Task: Using the information on pages 205-207 explain the following: 1. What is meant by black power and how much power did black people have? 2. What is a carpetbagger? 3. What is a scalawag?

5. Fraud and corruption The post-war era was marked by widespread political corruption. Dishonest scalawags and carpetbaggers enriched themselves in state and local governments of the South during Reconstruction. Cities in the North were not immune to the prevailing greed where the infamous Tweed Ring of New York City set the standard for urban corruption. On the national level the two Grant administrations established a woeful record, although few doubted the president`s personal honesty. So how did fraud and corruption work in government during this period? TASK: watch the following clip and explain how fraud and corruption works and also what happened specifically under Grant.

6. Scandal and corruption under Grant Southern Democrats bitterly attacked Republican rule in the South for corruption and inefficiency on a grand scale. Historians have found plenty of evidence to support this: - Many Republican politicians used their powers of patronage to benefit both themselves and their supporters. Bribery, especially by railway companies, were commonplace. Southern state debts multiplied and taxes sharply increased. The Freedmen Bureau (due to it being a Republican organisation) was also seen as being corrupt and inefficient. - - - However, by the late 1860s and 1870s corruption and inefficiency was everywhere. Corruption in the South didn t even compare to places like New York. Task: Using the information around the room first and then finding additional information using your phones I would like you to create a mind map of the different corruption and scandals that took place under Grant. You will need to say: - Who was involved, what was it, what happened and how did it end.

7. What role did Grant play and what impact did it have on his presidency? Using the information sheet you have been provided with, you will need to answer the following questions: TASKS: 1. To what extent can Grant be considered responsible for the corruption which took place? 2. To what extent can grant s administration be considered one of the biggest failures in American history? 3. Overall, how much impact did the corruption have on Grant s presidency? No impact Large impact

8. Flip Learning For next lesson you will need to: TASK: - For you flip learning you will need to research the individuals in Grant s Cabinet (see list opposite) and comment on the following: What role did they have in Grant s cabinet? What did they do in their role? Are they linked to any form of scandal or corruption? If so, what did they do? How did they end their time with Grant (eg. Resigned?) - Hamilton Fish - Amos Akerman - William Belknap - John Creswell - Daniel Butterfield - William Richardson - George Williams - Columbus Delano - Orville Babcock - Horace Porter - George Robeson 1. 2. 3. 4. The links below will offer you the best starting points: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses _S._Grant_presidential_administration _reforms - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses _S._Grant_presidential_administration _scandals#Scandal_cabinet_and_appoi ntees