Corruption in the Federal Government By the left-side of the room

The Spoils System The Spoils System is the right of the president to fire the past cabinet and appoint his own party as cabinet members. This causes much corruption because the president elects cabinet members that share his own party, but not qualified people. Also, bribery becomes a problem with the spoils system. Eventually, the government fills with unqualified, dishonest politicians.

Corruption: Credit Mobilier Scandal As the Transcontinental Railroad was being planned, the federal government contracted the Union Pacific Railroad (UPR) to build the western section of the railroad. The UPR then contracted Credit Mobilier to aid in the building of the railroad. The federal government kept funding and granting money to the UPR, which gave their money to Credit Mobilier. Credit Mobilier, then gave money to politicians who were in favor of the granting of money to the UPR. The federal government didn’t investigate the Credit Mobiliers intentions until 1872, 3 years after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. By then there was so much money spent that it was too late to fix the scandal.

Corruption: Whiskey Ring The Whiskey Ring was a plot by several politicians, who slightly raised taxes on whiskey. Then they secretly diverted the extra tax revenue to themselves. They made millions of dollars off the tax until they were caught. Eventually over 100 convictions were made, and over 3 million in taxes recovered. This is considered corruption because many Republican politicians abused their power for their own profit.

Reform in the Federal Government Rutherford B. Hayes was against the spoils system. He set an example by not appointing his own unqualified party, but instead qualified Independents. Before, Hayes could make any large reform, he lost the office to James Garfield. Garfield would only serve two and a half months before being assassinated. Garfield’s death sparked a public outcry demanding civil reform, which spurred the creation of the Pendleton Act. With the new president Chester A. Arthur’s approval, the Pendleton Act was able to pass. This act prevented most of the spoil system and for the most part ended the corruption of the Spoils System.