Grant's Whiskey Ring: The $3 Million Tax Fraud

Washington, DC. After the Civil War in 1875, America seemed to be moving toward recovery from the trouble of the last few years. Still, hidden in the shadows, there was a plot brewing. A plot involving a secret society, a scandal, and barrels of whiskey. In today's episode, we are exploring an important chapter of U.S. history in the late 18th century, the Whiskey Ring of 1875. This takes us to the city of St.

TIMELINE
1869: In St. Louis, the ring's leader was Missouri revenue collector John McDonald, who was appointed by Ulysses Grant in 1869.
1875: In February 1875, George Fishback, owner of the St. Louis Democrat, proposed a solution.
1876: In June 1876 due to a political fallout.
1877: The Compromise of 1877, which is also known as the Wormley Agreement or the Bargain of 1877, was like an unspoken political arrangement in the United States.

WHY THIS MATTERS
The story of Washington is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know.

Episode 135 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters

Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-history

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