The Political Machine Cities City governments Didn ’ t provide: jobs, financial aid, protection, sanitation etc. Political Machine steps in Provided services and business help in exchange for votes and money

precinct captains precinct workers ward bosses city boss Political machine: organized group that controlled things for a political party Found in Baltimore, New York, San Francisco, Boston

The City Boss Sometimes the mayor, sometimes other Controlled city jobs, business licenses, influenced the courts Got votes and money for political party Roscoe Conkling - boss of the New York Republican machine Built sewers, parks, waterworks, schools, hospitals, orphanages

Corruption in the Machines Fraud (deliberate deception) - sometimes cheated to win elections Graft (using political influence for financial gain) Bribes - businesses offered money to get city contracts Kickbacks - officials hired companies and when city paid, company kicked-back some of themoney to the official

Boss Tweed - William M. Tweed City Boss of Tammany Hall, the powerful Democratic Political Machine in New York Led ring of corrupt politicians who defrauded New York City

Thomas Nast, Cartoonist

1880 Presidential Election: Republicans Half BreedsStalwarts Sen. James G. Blaine Sen. Roscoe Conkling (Maine) (New York) James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur (VP) compromise

Patronage - “ Spoils System ” Government jobs were the spoils The winning party in an election got to hand out these jobs to their supporters Providing a job to a possibly unqualified candidate as a reward or because of a personal connection is called “ cronyism ”

1881: Garfield Assassinated! Charles Guiteau: I Am a Stalwart, and Arthur is President now!

Chester Arthur- A “ dandy ” President?

Pendleton Act (1883)  Civil Service Act in response to patronage and “ spoils system ”  By /2 of federal jobs required an exam to get a federal job