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The Gilded Age. Political Machine. Offers services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support Ex. Jobs, contracts, social services, community centers
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Political Machine • Offers services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support • Ex. Jobs, contracts, social services, community centers • City Boss: controlled city jobs, influenced courts, built parks, sewers, distributed money to schools, hospitals, etc.
How Political Machines Worked Top: City Boss (Boss Tweed)-> controlled the machine Middle: Ward Boss-> all precincts in district wide voting Bottom: Party loyalists (precinct workers)-> gain voter’s support in precinct
City Bosses • Fraud • Making up names of voters • Graft: illegal use of political influence for personal gain • Kickbacks, bribes, illegal activities • Boss Tweed: William M Tweed, leader of New York City’s powerful Democratic political machine; Tammany Hall • Led large group of corrupt politicians • Large kickbacks on courthouse • Thomas Nast made public aware with political cartoons
Corruption at the National Level • Patronage: giving government jobs to people who helped get a candidate elected • Also known as the spoils system • Not everyone was qualified • Could be used for personal gain • Reform took place under presidents, Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur • Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883: created bipartisan committee to appoint federal employees