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Discover the similarities between acts of corruption in NJ, why it occurs more in certain locations, and why it is common among politicians. Learn about the influence of political machines and the negative impact on immigrants. Explore the case of Boss Tweed and the positives and negatives of political machines.
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With the person sitting next to you: What are some similarities between most of the acts of corruption in NJ?Why does it seem like acts of corruption occur in certain locations more than others? Why are acts of corruption so common among politicians/in NJ politics?
Urban Politics • Cities grow fast & have lots of immigrants • Not equip to deal with new issues • The Political Machine – (“shadow government”) controlled the elected officials/city governments by getting their candidates elected • Power was maintained by getting new immigrants to vote for machine candidate • By 1910 immigrants made up more than ½ population 18 major cities! • the political machine provided new immigrants with support such as jobs, housing, help with legal issues, et cetera…
The Political Machine • The Boss - either the mayor or controlled the mayor • Controlled jobs, licenses, courts, building projects • Ward Bosses – in charge of a specific “ward”/section of NYC • Captains – 1st/2nd generation immigrants who lived in the ethnic communities and immigrants went to when needed help
If the machine did not get enough immigrant votes they would just… • Rig elections • “Vote Early and Often”! • Fake names & addresses, deceased people, dogs, children • In Philadelphia one ward politician boasted that, “One hundred years ago our forefathers voted for liberty in this city, and they vote here still!” • More votes than people!!
Why did the police not stop this??? • The Boss controlled hiring and firing of police officers and other city jobs!
Why did the political machine want to get candidates elected to badly • Controlled city “coffers”/$$$ • You wanted anything in the city, had to go through the boss first!
The Corruption • Grafting –use of political influence/power for personal gain • Who are politicians supposed to help????? • Instead, who did they help??? • Kick backs - Machine would chose a worker that contracted for a government job, the worker would charge more than necessary and kick back a fee to the political machine • Taking bribes to allow illegal activity • Saloons open on Sundays • Gambling • Controlled hiring and firing of police officers…
Boss Tweed • Boss Tweed • head NYC’s Political Machine - Tammany Hall (location democratic party) • 1869-1871 Tweed Ring defrauded city more than $200 million • The Court House construction • Charged $13 million for a $250,000 project • Exposed by T. Nast • Arrested & died in jail
Sound okay??? • A carpenter was paid $360,751 (roughly $4.9 million today) for one month's labor in a building with very little woodwork. • A furniture contractor received $179,729 ($2.5 million) for three tables and 40 chairs. • the plasterer, got $133,187 ($1.82 million) for two days' work; his business acumen earned him the sobriquet "The Prince of Plasterers." • When a committee investigated why it took so long to build the courthouse, it spent $7,718 ($105,000) to print its report. The printing company was owned by Tweed.
What does this tell you? Tweed-le-dee and Tilden-dumA Harper's Weekly cartoon depicts Tweed as a police officer saying to two boys, "If all the people want is to have somebody arrested, I'll have you plunderers convicted. You will be allowed to escape, nobody will be hurt, and then Tilden will go to the White House and I to Albany as Governor."
What are two positives and two negatives of political machines? • The political machine helped immigrants in the short term, but hurt them in the long term • Money “stolen” could have gone to programs to pull immigrants out of poverty • Increased negative attitudes towards immigrants/immigrants blamed for electing these people • Who is to blame for this system?
