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Whiskey Ring

Definition

The Whiskey Ring was a scandal during the Grant administration in the 1870s involving a group of government officials and whiskey producers who defrauded the federal government of tax revenues.

Analogy

Imagine if a group of students (whiskey producers) found a way to cheat on a test, and then they bribed the teacher (government official) to look the other way. This is essentially what happened with the Whiskey Ring, but instead of grades, it involved taxes on whiskey.

Related terms

Ulysses S. Grant: The 18th President of United States under whose administration the Whiskey Ring scandal occurred.

Tax Evasion: The illegal act or practice of not paying taxes owed by law.

Political Scandal: An action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage.

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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.