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Political Machines and the Gilded Age

Political Machines and the Gilded Age . The external glitter of wealth conceals a corrupt political core that reflects the growing gap between the very few rich and the very many poor. America in the 1870’s-1890’s -- Mark Twain. Political Machines.

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Political Machines and the Gilded Age

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  1. Political Machines and the Gilded Age The external glitter of wealth conceals a corrupt political core that reflects the growing gap between the very few rich and the very many poor. America in the 1870’s-1890’s -- Mark Twain

  2. Political Machines Group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city Offer support services to voters/businesses in exchange for political/financial support

  3. Immigrants and Political Machines Received sympathy & understanding Many bosses could relate to immigrant problems Immigrants would support machines in return

  4. Power Corrupts In order to win elections some bosses turned to fraud Added fake names to voting lists Received kickbacks from gov’t contracts Favors for businesses in return for gifts (graft) Accept bribes to allow illegal activities to continue

  5. Tammany Hall William “Boss” Tweed Chairman of Tammany Hall Helped unite Democrats Boss Tweed was head of Tammany from 1863-1871

  6. Boss Tweed Tweed sought rapid expansion of infrastructure (extending streets & sewers) Tammany Hall gained much power and became caught up in one of the biggest political scandals of the nation’s history

  7. The Tweed Ring Corrupt politicians led by Tweed that used power to “line their pockets” Pocketed $200 million through graft and kickbacks

  8. Thomas Nast Thomas Nast drew political cartoons for Harper’s Weekly Began a campaign to expose the Tweed Ring Tweed sentenced to 12 years Led to political reform movement

  9. Nast Cartoons

  10. Spoils System “To the victor go the spoils” Most federal jobs given out by the President Interfered with the function of government A merit system was called for to give federal jobs to qualified people

  11. Ulysses S. Grant1869-1877 One of the worst examples of scandal Congressmen received bribes/kickbacks Cabinet cheated Indians on reservations “Whiskey Ring” distillers bribed treasury official not to pay taxes

  12. Rutherford B. Hayes1877-1880 Won disputed election. “His Fraudulence” Began civil service reform Named independents to his cabinet Investigated gov’t corruption (fired 1,000)

  13. James A. Garfield1881 Ties to reformers, but VP was Chester Arthur Garfield gave most jobs to reformers Garfield assassinated by someone that did not get a job

  14. Chester A. Arthur1881-1885 Turned reformer after he became President Signed the Pendleton Act (1883) Created commission to make appointments of federal jobs Today 90% are merit jobs

  15. Pendleton Act Increased number of merit jobs Politicians could no longer uses spoils system to gain power (decrease of contributions) Tie between government and big business became stronger

  16. Definitions • Graft- using money to get what you want • Spoils System- giving jobs to loyal friends and party members • Pendleton Civil Service Act- made government jobs based on merit instead of the Spoils system

  17. Definitions Cont’d • progressivesReformers who worked to improve social and political problems, beginning in the late 1800s • muckrakersJournalists who wrote about corruption in business and politics in order to bring about reform.

  18. Progressives • direct primaryMethod of allowing voters to choose their own candidates for office. • recallMeasure allowing voters to remove an official from office before his or her term is over

  19. Citizens’ Rights • initiativeLaw enabling voters to propose a new law by collecting signatures on a petition • referendumMeasure allowing citizens to vote on proposed laws • Seventeenth Amendment(1913) Constitutional amendment allowing American voters to directly elect U.S. senators.

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