Ulysses S. Grant and the Whiskey Ring Scandal The end of the Civil War would mark a new period in American history. This new period was called the Gilded Age which took place during the late nineteenth century. The name was taken from a book written by Mark Twain, an American writer, and although the name suggests a time of prosperity, it wasn’t. What Twain meant in this name is that, looking at the surface, it’s golden but underneath is where political wrongs are. When faced with significant changes in the economy after the Civil War, America’s political system dealt with the problems in their own way - corruption. A huge scandal at the time took place under Ulysses S. Grant, America’s eighteenth president and Union Civil War general, within his administration. Corruption at the highest level took place in which multiple bribes were sought out to further fill pockets of those involved. This would be known as the Whiskey Ring scandal. An analysis of Grant’s administration reveals a display of corruption by way of the Whiskey Ring scandal which would ultimately tarnish his reputation and legacy as President of the United States.…show more content… From 1863 to 1865, a gradual tax increase on distilled liquor would occur. It would start at twenty cents per gallon to sixty cents to one dollar and fifty cents, in respect to each given year. After June of 1865, it would be raised to two dollars per gallon. In 1863, the total revenue collected from distilleries were $28,431,797.83. In 1866, with the two dollar tax, the revenue collected would be $15,995,701.66 (Ellis 203-204). Were people consuming and buying less liquor to have such a dramatic drop in revenue? This would not be the case as the Whiskey Ring was afoot. Multiple methods to avoid the law were
