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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAChapter 8Chapter 8

POLITICS IN THE POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGEGILDED AGE

Section 1:Section 1: Political Machines Political Machines

Section 2:Section 2: Restoring Honest Restoring Honest GovernmentGovernment

Section 3:Section 3: The Populist The Populist MovementMovement

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

SECTION 1

Political MachinesPolitical Machines

Why Immigrants Were

Important to Machines

• represented a huge supply of supporters and voters

• tended to be particularly loyal to machines/ POLITICAL PARTIES

Ways in Which Machines

Recruited and Rewarded Immigrants

• welcomed immigrants upon arrival

• found immigrants temporary housing and jobs

• helped immigrants become naturalized citizens

• helped immigrants with finances, funerals, and so on

POLITICAL MACHINES

AND IMMIGRANTS

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

during the late 1800’s well-organized during the late 1800’s well-organized political parties dominated city governments political parties dominated city governments in the U.S. because of their success in in the U.S. because of their success in getting their members elected to local getting their members elected to local political offices, these parties were called political offices, these parties were called political machines. political machines.

Political machines controlled votes by Political machines controlled votes by offering jobs, political favors, and services to offering jobs, political favors, and services to loyal supporters.loyal supporters.

Section 1: Political MachinesSection 1: Political MachinesPolitical machinesPolitical machines

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

“ “ I know what Parks (NYC Politician) is I know what Parks (NYC Politician) is doing, but what do I care? He has raised doing, but what do I care? He has raised my wages. Let him have his (illegal gains)my wages. Let him have his (illegal gains)

Bosses may dictate voting patterns, Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves. In fact, most public office themselves. In fact, most historical bosses did not. `historical bosses did not. `

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAImportance of immigrantsImportance of immigrants

easily accessible—could be easily accessible—could be welcomed on arrivalwelcomed on arrival

had many needs for housing, jobs, had many needs for housing, jobs, and servicesand services

represented a huge supply of represented a huge supply of supporters and voterssupporters and voters

tended to be loyal to machinestended to be loyal to machines

Section 1: Political MachinesSection 1: Political Machines

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAI am the I am the BOSSBOSS of this Boat of this Boat

YOU CAN CALL ME SKIPPERYOU CAN CALL ME SKIPPER

BECAUSE THE WAY I TURN BECAUSE THE WAY I TURN THIS MONEY OVER YOU CAN THIS MONEY OVER YOU CAN CALL ME FLIPPERCALL ME FLIPPER

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERACorruption and illegal activitiesCorruption and illegal activities

Machines hired men to “vote early Machines hired men to “vote early and often.”and often.”

Bosses took bribes, payoffs, and Bosses took bribes, payoffs, and kickbacks.kickbacks.

Section 1: Political MachinesSection 1: Political Machines

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

William Magear "Boss" Tweed (April 3, 1823 William Magear "Boss" Tweed (April 3, 1823 – April 12, 1878) was an American politician – April 12, 1878) was an American politician and head of Tammany Hall, the name given and head of Tammany Hall, the name given to the Democratic Party political machine to the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the history of that played a major role in the history of 19th century New York City politics. 19th century New York City politics.

He was convicted and eventually imprisoned He was convicted and eventually imprisoned for stealing millions of dollars from the for stealing millions of dollars from the city through political corruption. city through political corruption. He was of Scottish-Irish descent.He was of Scottish-Irish descent.

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERACollapse of Tweed’s supportCollapse of Tweed’s support

Thomas Nast’s cartoons revealed Thomas Nast’s cartoons revealed Tweed’s corruption, even to people Tweed’s corruption, even to people who couldn’t read very well.who couldn’t read very well.

The The New York TimesNew York Times published a published a series of articles exposing Tweed.series of articles exposing Tweed.

Section 1: Political MachinesSection 1: Political Machines

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERARestoring Honest GovernmentRestoring Honest Government

• supported reform after the assassination of President Garfield

• helped pass Pendleton Civil Service Act

President Arthur and Reforms

• split the Republicans• Stalwarts voted for James Blaine, the Half-Breed candidate;reform Republicans voted for Grover Cleveland, the Democratic candidate

Effect on Republicans and the Election of 1884

SECTION 2

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

SECTION 2

Restoring Honest GovernmentRestoring Honest GovernmentPresident Cleveland’s Reforms

• doubled the number of jobs requiring civil service exams• promoted reform in general

• returned to political patronage• spent money on Republican pet projects

President Harrison’s Response

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERADesire for reformDesire for reform

Americans wanted political reform and Americans wanted political reform and honest officials because corruption had honest officials because corruption had become so widespread. This desire become so widespread. This desire split the Republican Party into the split the Republican Party into the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds.Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds.

Section 2: Restoring Honest GovernmentSection 2: Restoring Honest Government

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAPresident ArthurPresident Arthur

Arthur began to support reform after Arthur began to support reform after the assassination of President Garfield, the assassination of President Garfield, and this led to reform Republicans and this led to reform Republicans voting for Cleveland, the Democratic voting for Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, in the election of 1884.candidate, in the election of 1884.

Section 2: Restoring Honest GovernmentSection 2: Restoring Honest Government

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Harrison’s response to Harrison’s response to Cleveland’s reformsCleveland’s reforms

returned to political patronagereturned to political patronage spent money on Republican pet spent money on Republican pet

projectsprojects

Section 2: Restoring Honest GovernmentSection 2: Restoring Honest Government

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

SECTION 3

The Populist MovementThe Populist Movement• formed cooperatives

• pressured states to regulate freight and grain-storage rates

• offered low-cost insurance

• lobbied for graduated income tax

Effortsto Help Farmers

• The government limited the power of ICC.

Factorsthat

WeakenedEfforts

• The existence of racial segregation in southern states prevented a strong

farmers’ coalition.

FARMER’SORGANIZATIONS

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAEconomic hardships for farmersEconomic hardships for farmers

heavy debtsheavy debts high freight and machinery costshigh freight and machinery costs falling crop pricesfalling crop prices

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERA

Farmer’s movementsFarmer’s movements hoped to pressure states to regulate freight andhoped to pressure states to regulate freight and

grain-storage ratesgrain-storage rates formed cooperativesformed cooperatives offered low-cost insuranceoffered low-cost insurance lobbied for graduated income taxlobbied for graduated income tax weakened by government limits on the powerweakened by government limits on the power

of ICCof ICC weakened by racial segregationweakened by racial segregation

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAMoney backed by silverMoney backed by silver

Farmers supported money backed by Farmers supported money backed by silver because they wanted to increase silver because they wanted to increase the paper money supply. As long as the paper money supply. As long as only gold was allowed to back paper, only gold was allowed to back paper, the money supply was restricted by the money supply was restricted by how much gold the treasury had.how much gold the treasury had.

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAPopulist Party issuesPopulist Party issues

graduated income taxgraduated income tax bank regulationbank regulation government ownership of railroad government ownership of railroad

and telegraph companiesand telegraph companies free coinage of silverfree coinage of silver immigration restrictionsimmigration restrictions shorter workdayshorter workday voting reformsvoting reforms

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement

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IN THE MODERN ERAIN THE MODERN ERAThe effects of silverThe effects of silver

Silver was a central issue in the 1896 Silver was a central issue in the 1896 presidential campaign.presidential campaign.

Populists supported Bryan because of Populists supported Bryan because of his stand on silver.his stand on silver.

William McKinley won the election with William McKinley won the election with the support of business leaders who the support of business leaders who opposed free silver.opposed free silver.

Section 3: The Populist MovementSection 3: The Populist Movement