Teapot Dome facts for kids
The Teapot Dome scandal was a big problem in the United States government that happened between 1921 and 1922. It got its name from an oil reserve near a place called Teapot Rock in Wyoming. President Warren G. Harding put this oil reserve, along with another one in California, under the control of the Department of the Interior. The head of this department, Albert B. Fall, secretly accepted money from oil companies. He then let these companies use the land and its oil. The United States Senate investigated what happened and found that Fall had made a secret plan that was against the rules. Many people think this was one of the biggest government problems in American history. This scandal also made President Harding's time in office look bad.
What Happened Next
The 1924 Election
In 1924, the Democrats tried to use the Teapot Dome scandal to help them win the presidential election. They kept reminding people about the scandal. However, their plan did not work. The Republicans won the election easily that year.
Images for kids
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Oil businessman Edward L. Doheny (at table, second from right) speaking to the Senate committee investigating the Teapot Dome oil leases, 1924
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Teapot Dome around the time of the scandal, showing Teapot Rock (from a postcard around 1922)
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Albert B. Fall was the first U.S. cabinet official to be sent to prison.
See also
In Spanish: Escándalo del Teapot Dome para niños
