Chapter 17: Politics in the Gilded Age

1. Chapter 17: Politics in the Gilded Age 1865-1900 Section 1: Political Machines Pages: 518-523

2. Political Machines • The Rise of the Political Machine: (518-519) • The continuing growth of cities created a new challenge for city governments:. • Growing urban populations also required the expansion or new construction of bridges, parks, schools, streets, sewer systems, utility systems, fire, police and sanitation departments • With the support of very well-organized political parties, city council members and district representatives took charge of city governments • They oversaw new public services and, in many cases, pocketed money meant for the public good

3. Political Machines • The Rise of the Political Machine: (518-519) • Political bosses: (518) • Political Machine: well-organized political parties that dominated city governments in the United States and they had great success in getting their members elected to local political offices. • Powerful political bosses managed these machines • Political bosses dictated party positions on city ordinances and made deals with business leaders • They also controlled the district leaders, city officials, and council members who kept the machine running smoothly.

4. Political Machines • The Rise of the Political Machine: (518-519) • Political bosses: (518) • Precinct captains built relationships with voters living in urban neighborhoods and was a great strength of political machines – meet voters face-to-face • By offering jobs, political favors, and services to local residents, precinct captains won support for the political machine • At election time, bosses and precinct captains instructed local residents to vote for selected candidates and they did

5. Political Machines • The Rise of the Political Machine: (518-519) • Public services: (519) • During the late 1800s political machines attempted to provide the public services required by growing U.S. cities • Political bosses such as Alexander Shepherd of Washington, D.C., financed expanded sewer and water systems, paved streets, and provided other public services • The boom in public-works projects meant that bosses could distribute many jobs among loyal supporters

6. Political Machines • The Rise of the Political Machine: (518-519) • Public services: (519) • By providing jobs, political favors, and services to local residents, political machines were able to win support from many poor working-class city-dwellers

7. Political Machines • Immigrants and Political Machines: (519-520) • Because political machines helped the urban poor, new immigrants often became particularly loyal supports of political machines • Machine politicians usually met immigrants as soon as they arrived in the United States • They helped newcomers get settled in their new homeland

8. Political Machines • Immigrants and Political Machines: (519-520) • Tammany Hall, a political club that had gained considerable power in the 1860s and early 1870s, became a powerful Democratic political machine in New York City • It sent numerous party workers to Ellis Island to meet new immigrants • Party workers assisted immigrants by finding them temporary housing and jobs. They also helped immigrants become naturalized citizens and thus eligible to vote for Tammany Hall candidates • However, Tammany officials failed to offer any extensive programs to address poverty and poor housing conditions

9. Political Machines • Immigrants and Political Machines: (519-520) • Political bosses ensured voter loyalty among immigrant groups by providing jobs in exchange for votes • James Pendergast was a particularly well-liked boss in Kansas City, Missouri • Pendergast gained considerable political support by providing jobs and special services to African Americans, Irish Americans, and Italian American voters

10. Political Machines • Immigrants and Political Machines: (519-520) • In some cities, however, immigrants became active members of political machines, serving as officeholders, organizers and representatives • Because Irish Americans spoke English as a first language, they had slightly easier access to U.S. Political process than many other immigrant groups

11. Political Machines • Graft and Corruption: (520-523) • Political machines often resorted to corruption in their attempt to take control of city governments • Machine corruption often interfered with the important functions of city government

12. Political Machines • Graft and Corruption: (520-523) • Election Fraud: (520) • When jobs and political favors were not enough to build popular support during elections, some political machines turned to fraud • For example, during one election in Philadelphia, a voting district with fewer than 100 registered voters somehow returned 252 votes

13. Political Machines • Graft and Corruption: (520-523) • Graft: (520-522) • Graft means: the acquisition of money or political power through illegal or dishonest methods • Once elected, political bosses often became even more corrupt • Political bosses looked for ways to increase their own political power and personal wealth • Politicians often received bribes, payoffs, or KICKBACKS – payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract • In Chicago, business leader Charles Tyson Yerkes built an empire of street railway lines by paying Alderman John Powers to support city ordinances favorable to his company

14. Political Machines • Graft and Corruption: (520-523) • The Tweed Ring: (523) • William Marcy Tweed was a boss of Tammany Hall in the 1860s • The Tweed Ring collected $200 million in graft between 1865 and 1871. • The corruption of Tammany Hall and the Tweed Ring was mercilessly revealed in a series of political cartoons drawn by Thomas Nast. His cartoons exposed the corruption of Tammany Hall and contributed to Tweed’s conviction for fraud and extortion in 1873.

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