Political Machines and Political Reform

1. Political Machines and Political Reform Objective 5.04: Describe the changing role of government in economic and political affairs.

2. Political Machines • Unofficial political organization based on patronage and the spoils system • Rely on voter loyalty through bribes and favors • Preyed on the immigrants (provided jobs, food and housing) in exchange for votes on election day • Existed in large cities • Controlled by a “boss” • Seen as corrupt for their unethical and often illegal practices

3. Tammany Hall • The most notorious political machine • Were Democrats that controlled New York City politics for decades • Under the control of William Marcy Tweed or “Boss Tweed” • Relied on the Irish immigrants • Supporters would vote several times in one day…illegal

4. Graft • Obtaining money dishonestly by exploiting political power • Form of political corruption • rewards of corruption • Tammany Hall collected between $75-$200 million in graft • Example: • Buying land that will be zoned for commercial use , before this is publicly known, and then selling it for a significant profit Who Stole the People’s Money? T 'Was Him (Tweed)!

6. Credit Mobilier Scandal • Well known example of graft • US Congressmen bought land that would be used for the Transcontinental Railroad then sold the land for an outrageous profit • $72 million in contracts had been given to Credit Mobilier for building a rail only worth $53 million. Union Pacific and other investors were left nearly bankrupt. • Plagued Grant’s 2nd administration like the Whiskey Ring plagued his 1st administration

7. The Need for Political Reform • Many believed that spoils system (patronage) made government inefficient • Start to promote a civil service system in which jobs are given based on expertise • Others believed that the removal of spoils system would ruin their party • After President Garfield was assassinated by Charles Guiteau because he thought he deserved a government job many people change their mind

8. The Pendleton Act • Established a Civil Service Commission that wrote a civil service exam • If people wanted a government job they had to do well on the exam • Created a civil service system in which government employees were qualified to do their jobs, not because they were loyal to a political party

9. US vs. E.C. Knight Company • “aka” The Sugar Trust Case • First time the Sherman Antitrust Act was challenged • Limited the government’s power to control monopolies • American Sugar Refining Company owned 98% of sugar production…court decided this was a monopoly and it was disbanded.

10. Cartoonist like Joseph Kepler and Thomas Nast exposed the corruptions in government and machine politics.