1. Politics in the Gilded Age (1870’s-1890’s) Write these on the back of your notes from Monday… Objective: Describing the causes and effects of political corruption in the late 19 th century. Essential Question: Why did political corruption at the local, state and federal level elicit a need for reform?

2. Emergence of the Political Machine Political Machine: an organized group that controls the activities of a political party in a city – Offers services and businesses in exchange for political or financial support

3. Power of the Boss Unofficially controls access to city jobs and business licenses Wields influence over courts, government agencies and politicians Provide needed services to overcome ills of urbanization – Parks – Sewage systems – Trash pick-up – Schools – Hospitals – Orphanages

4. Immigrants and the Machine Many bosses and machine workers come from immigrant families They speak to immigrants in native language and understand their problems Assistance to immigrants: citizenship, jobs, housing, neighborhood services

5. Corruption and Scandal Most infamous city boss: Boss Tweed – Leader of New York City’s Democratic machine: Tammany Hall Methods of control/influence: – Election Fraud – Graft: illegal use of political influence for personal gain Kickbacks Racketeering Tweed was satirized in cartoonist Thomas Nast’s work and eventually imprisoned.