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 Politics in the Gilded Age  Local and national political corruption in the 19 th 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 1 st or 2 nd 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 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 ( )  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