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Political Machines

Political Machines . Do Now. • You are the mayor of your city. Many of your friends helped you during your campaign, and you got the job partly through their efforts. It is time to hire people for prominent city positions .

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Political Machines

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  1. Political Machines

  2. Do Now • You are the mayor of your city. Many of your friends helped you during your campaign, and you got the job partly through their efforts. It is time to hire people for prominent city positions. • Do you hire your friends, who now need jobs, or do you hire people who are possibly more qualified? Explain your answer. • Write independently in your notes. • Discuss

  3. Modern Political corruption-Illinois • A federal jury convicted Gov. Ryan in April 2006 on fraud and racketeering charges. Federal prosecutors had alleged that under Ryan, the state of Illinois was basically for sale. They accused Ryan of presiding over state government offices that were thoroughly corrupt for at least a decade. • Ryan steered lucrative state government contracts and leases to friends and government insiders who gave him and his family vacations, gifts and cash. • Rod Blagojevich was convicted on corruption charges related to attempting to sell his appointment of President Obama’s vacant Senate seat.

  4. Political MachineREview Political Machine: Organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city and offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support. Graft:a form of political corruption that can be defined as an unscrupulous use of a politician's authority for personal gain.

  5. The Political Machine Cont. • Closely connected to urban growth was the emergence of the powerful city machine • The machines traded services with votes • Streets • Buildings • Public services • Immigrants were in need of even more services

  6. Organization of Political Machine • Precinct Workers – Worked to gain voters’ support on a city block or in a neighborhood and reported to the ward boss. • Ward Boss – Helped the poor and gained votes by doing favors or providing services. In return for votes they would provide city jobs, contracts or appointments. • City Boss – Controlled thousands of municipal jobs, including police, fire and sanitation departments. Controlled business licenses and inspections. Had a lot of influence over courts and other municipal agencies.

  7. William Marcy Tweed • Became head of New York City’s Tammany Hall in 1863 • Tammany Hall was the powerful Democratic political machine • Between 1869 and 1873, the Tweed Ring pocketed as much as $200 million from the city in kickbacks and payoffs • Tammany Hall

  8. Examples of Tweed’s Work • Construction of New York County Courthouse (cost taxpayers $13 million, but actually cost $3 million – rest was pocketed by Tweed Ring) • Some positive public works came out of Tammany Hall – Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park

  9. Fall of Tweed • Tweed ring broken in 1871 • Tweed fell from power in 1872 • Political cartoonist, Thomas Nast ridiculed Tweed in the New York Times and in Harper’s Weekly • Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion • In 1873 he was sentenced to 12 yrs in jail • After serving 2 yrs, he escaped • He was later captured in Spain

  10. Spoils vs. Merit in Republican Party • Patronage led to the desire to reform government. • Stalwarts – opposed changes in the spoils system • Reformers • Mugwumps – wanted civil service reform • Half-Breeds – wanted reform, but wanted to remain loyal to Republicans • Republicans settled on independent candidate Garfield • Garfield had ties to reformers • Arthur had ties to Roscoe Conkling (Stalwart)

  11. Acts passed to reform government • Pendleton Service Act • Wilson-Gorman Tariff 1894 • What are these acts and how did they reform the corruption of the government?

  12. Textbook review • Civil Service reform- jobs in administrative positions should go to the most qualified. • From your reading of the section summarize these presidents’ attempts at reform: • Hayes • Garfield • Arthur

  13. Campaign Speeches • Students will be split into groups of 5. Choose a candidate to represent you. Your group will come up with a speech of your own to present to the class. Candidate will make the speech. • Speech should tell the class (voters): • Who you are • What your platform/issues are that you support (why we should vote for you) • Doyou support the reformers/the political machine and why?

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