Final answer:
The Teapot Dome Scandal led to widespread public disillusionment towards the government and increased awareness of the need for accountability in federal dealings. It had a lasting effect on American citizens' trust in their political system and contributed to the rise of environmental interest groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Teapot Dome Scandal had a profound impact on the American citizens of the time. It involved Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall, who was found to have accepted substantial bribes in return for leasing public oil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming, to private oil companies, violating the public's trust in government. The exposed corruption led to a deep sense of disillusionment among Americans towards their political leaders and institutions.
The Teapot Dome served as the biggest scandal of the 1920s, synonymous with government corruption. Fall was convicted and became the first cabinet official to be sentenced to prison, but this lenient punishment of a $100,000 fine and one year in jail did little to quell the public's outrage. This scandal tarnished the reputation of President Harding’s administration and planted seeds of doubt about the integrity of federal officials.
Furthermore, the scandal resulted in a shift in public perception, as it highlighted the need for greater accountability and oversight in government dealings, possibly giving rise to the growth of interest groups like the Sierra Club, which sought to protect federal lands from similar exploitation.