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Crédit Mobilier Scandal Timeline

(1864–1873)

The Crédit Mobilier Scandal was a major American political scandal of the 1870s involving railroad construction contracts, bribery, and members of Congress. Less

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Origins and construction

Union Pacific chartered by Congress

1864

The scandal's origins dated to 1864, when Congress chartered the Union Pacific Railroad to participate in constructing the eastern portion of the first transcontinental railroad.

Crédit Mobilier of America established

1864

The associated construction corporation, Crédit Mobilier of America, was established in 1864 as part of the arrangement surrounding Union Pacific railroad construction.

Image source: Crédit Mobilier scandal

Crédit Mobilier of America established

George Francis Train forms Crédit Mobilier

1864

In 1864, George Francis Train helped form Crédit Mobilier of America.

Image source: George Francis Train

George Francis Train forms Crédit Mobilier

Thomas C. Durant forms Crédit Mobilier

1864

Thomas C. Durant, vice president of the Union Pacific Railroad, joined George Francis Train in forming Crédit Mobilier of America in 1864.

Image source: Thomas C. Durant

Thomas C. Durant forms Crédit Mobilier

Union Pacific construction begins under the arrangement

1864 - 1867

From 1864 to 1867, the Union Pacific and Crédit Mobilier arrangement operated during construction of the eastern portion of the first transcontinental railroad.

Image source: Union Pacific Railroad

Union Pacific construction begins under the arrangement

Congress authorizes the transcontinental line

1864

The Pacific Railroad Acts of 1864–68 authorized and chartered the Union Pacific Railroad and supported construction of a transcontinental line.

Congress provides railroad capital

1864 - 1868

Through the Pacific Railroad Acts, Congress provided $100 million in capital investment, approximately $2.2 billion in 2025 terms, to complete the transcontinental line.

Union Pacific line planned westward

1864 - 1868

The authorized Union Pacific line was to run west from the Missouri River toward the Pacific coast as part of the first transcontinental railroad.

Image source: First transcontinental railroad

Union Pacific line planned westward

Eastern portion of transcontinental railroad built

1864 - 1867

The Crédit Mobilier arrangement concerned construction of the eastern portion of the first transcontinental railroad, extending from the Missouri River toward Utah Territory.

Crédit Mobilier conducts construction fraud

1864 - 1867

The Crédit Mobilier scandal was a two-part fraud conducted from 1864 to 1867 by the Union Pacific Railroad and Crédit Mobilier of America during railroad construction.

Union Pacific and Crédit Mobilier arrangement operates

1864 - 1867

The arrangement between the Union Pacific and Crédit Mobilier generated large profits for the construction company while the railroad was being built.

Crédit Mobilier earns construction profits

1864 - 1867

The arrangement generated $43,929,328 in profits for Crédit Mobilier, equivalent to more than $1.1 billion in 2025.

Pacific Railroad Acts continue

1865

The Pacific Railroad Acts remained part of the congressional framework for authorizing and financing the transcontinental railroad during 1865.

Pacific Railroad Acts continue

1866

Congressional railroad legislation continued in 1866 as part of the Pacific Railroad Acts of 1864–68.

Scandal remains tied to railroad construction

1867

By 1867, the two-part fraud associated with Union Pacific and Crédit Mobilier had been conducted during construction of the railroad's eastern portion.

Oakes Ames assumes Crédit Mobilier role

1867

Oakes Ames, a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts, replaced Thomas Durant at Crédit Mobilier in 1867.

Image source: Oakes Ames

Oakes Ames assumes Crédit Mobilier role

Thomas Durant replaced at Crédit Mobilier

1867

In 1867, Crédit Mobilier replaced Thomas Durant with Oakes Ames.

Pacific Railroad Acts completed

1868

The period covered by the Pacific Railroad Acts of 1864–68 concluded in 1868.

Image source: Pacific Railroad Acts

Pacific Railroad Acts completed

Investigations and consequences

Wilson's wife had died

1870

Wilson's wife had died in 1870, leaving senators to rely on Wilson's account and Ames's corroboration during the later investigation.

Image source: Henry Wilson

Wilson's wife had died

James Garfield denies wrongdoing

1872

James Garfield denied any wrongdoing in connection with the Crédit Mobilier scandal.

Wilson's reputation suffers

1873

Although the Senate took no action against Wilson, his reputation for integrity was somewhat damaged because of his initial denial.

Senate takes no action against Wilson

Feb 1873

The Senate accepted Wilson's explanation and took no action against him.

Ames corroborates Wilson's account

Feb 1873

Because Wilson's wife had died in 1870, senators relied on Wilson's word and on Oakes Ames's corroborating account.

Senate considers Wilson testimony

Feb 1873

Senators considered Wilson's complicated explanation during the February 1873 investigation.

Wilson explains stock transaction

Feb 1873

Wilson claimed that he had paid for stock in his wife's name and with her money, while maintaining that he had never taken possession of the shares.

Henry Wilson admits involvement

Feb 1873

During the February 1873 Senate investigation, Henry Wilson admitted involvement after initially denying it.

Senate investigation begins

Feb 1873

The Senate investigated the Crédit Mobilier allegations in February 1873.

Garfield elected president

1880

Garfield went on to be elected president in 1880 despite the controversy.

Image source: James A. Garfield

Garfield elected president

Scandal exposure

Scandal breaks during Grant campaign

1872

The story was broken by The New York Sun during the 1872 campaign of Ulysses S. Grant.

Ulysses S. Grant campaign affected

1872

The newspaper disclosure occurred during Ulysses S. Grant's 1872 campaign.

Image source: Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant campaign affected

House submits politicians for investigation

1872

In 1872, the House of Representatives submitted the names of nine politicians to the Senate for investigation.

Nine politicians face Senate inquiry

1872

The Senate received the names of nine politicians for investigation following the exposure of the scandal in 1872.

Henry Wilson initially denies involvement

1872

During the 1872 campaign, Henry Wilson, Grant's running mate, initially denied involvement in the Crédit Mobilier matter.

The New York Sun breaks the story

Sep 4, 1872

On September 4, 1872, The New York Sun broke the Crédit Mobilier story.

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Key Facts

  1. Crédit Mobilier of America was created by Union Pacific insiders to manage and profit from construction contracts for the transcontinental railroad.
  2. The company charged the Union Pacific far more than the actual construction costs, generating large profits for its investors.
  3. Union Pacific officials distributed discounted Crédit Mobilier shares and cash to influential members of Congress to discourage investigation.
  4. The scandal became public in 1872 after investigative reporting by the New York Sun, which published evidence supplied by Congressman Oakes Ames.
  5. Congress investigated in 1873, censuring Oakes Ames and James Brooks, while the scandal damaged public trust in the Republican Party and federal railroad policy.

Source

This Crédit Mobilier Scandal timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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