1. Politics in the Gilded Age

2. Political Scandals
Whiskey Ring = Government officials were caught taking bribes from whiskey makers

3. Credit Mobilier Scandal = Congressmen were caught awarding railroad contracts in exchange for kickbacks

4. Corruption in local politics
Political Machines = Controlled the politics in a specific city
The most famous political machine was Tammany Hall in New York City

5. Tammany Hall was led by Boss Tweed
Tweed would steal over $100 Million from New York City

6. “Stop those d_____ pictures
“Stop those d_____ pictures! I don’t care what the papers say about me, my constituents can’t read. But d____ it, the can see pictures” – Boss Tweed
Thomas Nast drew political cartoons of Boss Tweed in order to take him down

13. Tweed, and other politicians, participated in Graft = using a political office to make illegal money

14. The Mugwumps
Republican reformers (Mugwumps) wanted to change the spoils system and graft
Pendelton Act = Required government officials to take an exam to make sure they were qualified

15. Mugwumps also took on big business
Sherman Anti-Trust Act = Made trust (monopolies) illegal