The Emergence of the Political Machine & Politics of the Gilded Age

1. The Emergence of the Political Machine & Politics of the Gilded Age Chapter 15 Sections 1 & 2

2. I Political Machines • Industrialization, rapid urbanization, & Social Darwinism opened door for the political machine, city boss, & graft to take hold • Graft=illegal use of political influence for personal gain

3. A. The Political Machine • Political machine= organized group that controlled activities of a pol. Party in a city who offered services to voters & businessed in exchange for pol. and financial support

4. Precinct captainswardbosscity boss • In return for securing votes they get city jobs • Gained support of poor by doing favors & provided services

5. B. The Role of the political machines • City boss controlled city jobs, business licenses, influenced cts., provided gov’t support for businesses • some owed influence to solve prob. Of urbanization • Solving problems= ensure voters support

6. C. Immigrants & the Political Machine • Immigrants received services from political machines & in turn became loyal supporters • Many bosses were 1 or 2 gen. removed which allowed them to understand immigrant struggle & speak their language

7. II Municipal Graft and Scandal • Many political machines and bosses gave into greed & corruption as their power grew

8. A. Election Fraud & Graft • Bosses increase vote count by used dog names, children, & ppl who have died • Once candidate is elected, they could take advantage of opportunity for graft • Hire construction co. for projectbill higher than actual cost> extra $$ kicked back into the political machine • Kick backs=illegal payments • Kickbacks made machine & politicians wealthy • Police didn’t interfere because they were hired by bosses

9. B. The Tweed Ring Scandal • William tweed=head of Tammany hall & tweed ring • Tweed Ring= a group of corrupt politicians led by boss tweed • Tweed Ring constructs NY county Ct. Housecharge tax payers 11 mil when it really cost 3 mil • Eventually indicted and jailed

10. III Civil Service Replaces PatronageA. Patronage & the Spoils System • Patronage= giving gov’t jobs to people who had helped the candidate get elected • Spoils system went as far back as Jefferson • Some appointed to jobs were nor qualified 7 those who were sometimes used influence for personal gain • Interfered with daily functioning of gov’t because every new administration brought in their own ppl

11. Reformers called for federal merit system to replace spoils system • Civil service jobs, or jobs in gov;t administration, would go to most qualified • Ppl kept jobs as long as they preformed satisfactory

12. B. Hayes Launches Reforms • Could not get support for civil service ideas • Began to name independents to cabinet • Cabinet members fired clerks who had no job to do (unheard of) • Set up commission to investigate notoriously corrupt custom houses • Fired 2 top officials in NY custom house • Upset NY city Boss Conkling and his Stalwarts gang

13. C. Garfield Continues Reform • Rep. party split with some wanting reform while other did not • Reformers also split btwn those who wanted complete change and those who remained loyal to Rep. party • Rep. party select Garfield as pres. Candidate and Arthur as VP (Arthur 1 of officials fired) • Garfield gives jobs to reformers once elected • Garfield assassinated by a Stalwart

14. D. Arthur Turns Reformer and Supports Civil Service • Turned reformer once in office • Congress passes Pendleton Act at Arthur’s urging • Pendleton Act= authorized bipartisan civil service commision to make appointments to fed. Jobs • PA had 2 consequences • Increased fed. Jobs held by qualified ppl & public admin became honest & efficient • Politicians could no longer get $ for campaigns from politicians so they turn to big business for $$

15. IV Efforts to Regulate Tariffs Fail • Another issue addressed were tariffs • Everyone agreed tariffs were necessary to protect Amer. business but they caused prices to rise • The question was how high the tariffs should be

16. A. Harrison & High Tariffs-1; Cleveland-0 • Cleveland tried to lower tariffs but congress refused to support him • Runs for re-election under low-tariff platform against Benjamin Harris • Harrison campaign finances by co. who wanted higher tariffs • Harrison wins electoral vote but no pop. Vote & passes McKinley Tariff • McKinley Tariff Act raises tariffs to highest level ever

17. B. Cleveland Tries Again • Successfully runs for re-election the following election yr. • Cleveland the only president to serve 2 nonconsecutive terms • Refused to sign a bill that would lower tariffs because it included fed. Income tax • The bill becomes law without his signature • McKinley wins next pres. Election & raised tariffs again