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Political machine—organized group that controls city political party After the Civil War Political Machines control many cities Machine organization: precinct captains, ward bosses, city boss City bosses guaranteed their candidates were elected and city government went their way. Political Machines
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Politics in the Gilded Age
Local and national political corruption in the 19th century leads to calls for reform.
Political machine—organized group that
controls city political party After the Civil War Political Machines control
many cities Machine organization: precinct captains, ward
bosses, city boss City bosses guaranteed their candidates were
elected and city government went their way.
Political Machines
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Controlled access to city jobs, business Influenced courts Arranged building projects, community
services Bosses were paid by businesses, get voters’
loyalty Many were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants Machines help immigrants with
naturalization, jobs, housing
Political Bosses
Corruption
Machines use fraud to win elections
Graft—illegal use of political influence for personal gain
Machines take kickbacks, bribes to allow legal, illegal activities
Tweed Ring
1868 William M. Tweed, or Boss Tweed, heads Tammany Hall in NYC
Leads Tweed Ring, defrauds city of millions of dollars
Cartoonist Thomas Nast helps arouse public outrage
Tweed Ring broken in 1871
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Thomas Nast
Boss Tweed
APPENDIX A-Analyze the political cartoon.
Patronage (or the “spoils system”)—
government jobs to those who help candidate get elected Lifeblood of both parties disbursing jobs by the
bucketful in return for VOTES! Civil service (government administration) are
all patronage jobs Some appointees not qualified; some use
position for personal gain
Patronage
Members of the federal government also participated in
unethical activity. (1872) The Credit Mobilier scandal -Union Pacific RR insiders
formed the Credit Mobilier construction company and then hired themselves at inflated prices to build the railroad line earning a lot of money.
The company paid off members of Congress and the Vice President. Reformers and Half-Breeds (Republicans who wanted reform)
press for a merit system of hiring for civil service Republican President Rutherford B Hayes (1877-1881)
names independents to cabinet & creates commission to investigate corruption
fires officials; angers Stalwarts (Republicans who opposed reform)
Civil Service Reform
Garfield Assassinated
1880, Republican independent James A. Garfield wins election Stalwart Chester A. Arthur
is vice-president Garfield gives patronage jobs to
reformers; A disappointed and mentally
deranged “office seeker,” Charles J. Guiteau, shot President Garfield in the back at a Washington railroad station.
Charles Guiteau:“I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!”
As president, Arthur urges Congress to
pass civil service law Garfield's assassination spurs passage
of the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
The “Magna Carta” of civil-service reform
Appointments based on exam score
Reform Begins
APPENDIX B: Analyze the excerpt from the
Pendleton Act to complete question.
Document Analysis