Chapter 15 Section3 Politics in the Gilded Age

Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives

Political Machines Controlled a political party within a city Offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for support or money They gain control of local governments everywhere Lead by a “Boss” Motivated by money and solving urban issues for people support Organized like a pyramid Top: Boss (controls activities, rich and corrupt) Middle: Ward Boss (Goes out an gets favors to get votes for the boss) Bottom: Precinct Workers and Captains (door knockers, gather support)

Scandals Graft: illegal use of political influence of personal gain Ex. I help you find a job, you bill city for more than necessary, then Boss gets a kickback of the “extra” money Accepted bribes to allow illegal activities like gambling

Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall Tammany Hall was the political center of NYC He gets a graft from construction of the NY County Courthouse Costs $3mil, but the tax payers charges $13 mil Tweed Ring broken in 1871 Tweed counted for 20 counts of fraud and sentenced to 12 years in jail Most famous of political Machines Thomas Nast is the cartoonists that brings them down

Boss Tweed Cartoon

Civil Service Reform Civil Service replaces patronage (giving jobs to your friends) Now those most qualified receive the job James A Garfield becomes President He still gives the new reformers most of the new official jobs (patronage) He is assassinated by Charles Guiteau who had been turned down a job, Chester Arthur takes his place Pendleton Civil Service Act creates a commission to appoint federal officials through a merit system