Political Corruption and Civil Service Reform The Gilded Age 1865-1900 ish Political Corruption and Civil Service Reform

What is the Gilded Age? The Gilded Age is a time period in American History that runs concurrent with the Second Industrial Revolution. From roughly the end of the Civil War to 1900. It represents a time when America looked golden from a distance, covered in a cheap gold paint that hid much of the corruption and other flaws of American society.

What is the Gilded Age? Flaws such as: Child Labor Political Corruption Monopolies Poor Working Conditions Oppression of Minority Groups

Formation of Political Machines The continuing growth of cities created a new challenge for city governments. Growing urban populations also required the expansion or new construction of bridges, parks, schools, streets, sewer systems, utility systems, fire, police and sanitation departments With the support of very well-organized political parties, city council members and district representatives took charge of city governments They oversaw new public services and, in many cases, pocketed money meant for the public good

Political Machine Organization Political Machine: Political organizations that used legal and illegal methods to ensure that their candidates won elections Powerful political bosses managed these machines Political bosses: Corrupt political leaders who used bribery and favors to win votes and elections Bosses also controlled the district leaders, city officials, and council members who kept the machine running smoothly.

Political Machine Organization Precinct captains built relationships with voters living in urban neighborhoods and was a great strength of political machines – meet voters face-to-face By offering jobs, political favors, and services to local residents, precinct captains won support for the political machine At election time, bosses and precinct captains instructed local residents to vote for selected candidates and they did

Public Services During the late 1800s political machines attempted to provide the public services required by growing U.S. cities Political bosses such as Alexander Shepherd of Washington, D.C., financed expanded sanitation systems, paved streets, and provided other public services The boom in public-works projects meant that bosses could distribute many jobs among loyal supporters

Securing Power By providing jobs, political favors, and services to local residents, political machines were able to win support from many poor working-class city-dwellers

Securing Power Because political machines helped the urban poor, new immigrants often became particularly loyal supporters of political machines Machine politicians usually met immigrants as soon as they arrived in the United States They helped newcomers get settled in their new homeland

Tammany Hall Tammany Hall, a political club that had gained considerable power in the 1860s and early 1870s, became a powerful Democratic political machine in New York City It sent numerous party workers to Ellis Island to meet new immigrants Party workers assisted immigrants by finding them temporary housing and jobs. They also helped immigrants become naturalized citizens and thus eligible to vote for Tammany Hall candidates However, Tammany officials failed to offer any extensive programs to address poverty and poor housing conditions

Corruption Political machines often resorted to corruption in their attempt to take control of city governments Machine corruption often interfered with the important functions of city government

Election Fraud When jobs and political favors were not enough to build popular support during elections, some political machines turned to fraud For example, during one election in Philadelphia, a voting district with fewer than 100 registered voters somehow returned 252 votes

Graft Graft: the acquisition of money or political power through illegal or dishonest methods Once elected, political bosses often became even more corrupt Political bosses looked for ways to increase their own political power and personal wealth Politicians often received bribes, payoffs, or KICKBACKS – payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract In Chicago, business leader Charles Tyson Yerkes built an empire of street railway lines by paying Alderman John Powers to support city ordinances favorable to his company

Boss Tweed William Marcy Tweed, “Boss Tweed” was a boss of Tammany Hall in the 1860s The Tweed Ring collected $200 million in graft between 1865 and 1871. The corruption of Tammany Hall and the Tweed Ring was mercilessly revealed in a series of political cartoons drawn by Thomas Nast. His cartoons exposed the corruption of Tammany Hall and contributed to Tweed’s conviction for fraud and extortion in 1873.

Civil Service Reform In response to the political corruption of the Gilded Age many Americans called for changes in the civil service, or government jobs. People were sick of unqualified, party supporters getting government jobs. Pendleton Civil Service Act: Set up a merit system to grant government jobs to qualified candidates after an exam was taken.