1. Local Politics of the Gilded Age-The political machine
Mario Lozano, Chase Meiron, Bry Pfolsgrof, Amanda Szeztaye, Ariana Lewandowski, Corina Thomas, Katlyn Cocks, Jessica Deyoung, Mattew Kripp, (Amber)Mason Brady, Robert Corso

2. The Gilded Age
The Gilded age was a time period in the late 1800’s, which was an overall time of prosperity for the country in terms of technological advancement
It was a time of extreme poverty for the lower class
On a local scale, many large companies used their economic and social influence to gain, and later abuse, political influence

3. Political Machines
A political machine was an unofficial organization that was designed to keep political sway
Designed to influence popular vote in their favor
Used corrupt methods to gain and retain their government jobs
Party boss-The political leader of a political machine; gained the political sway, and these were those elected to positions of power
One of the most famous party bosses was William Marcy Tweed (Boss Tweed)
Controlled Tammany Hall, the political club of New York’s Democratic party

4. Benefits of a political machine
Many politicians used their political influence in corrupt ways
A political machine gave many benefits to the politicians inside the system and those that controlled it
Political machines during the Gilded Age were ways of controlling and abusing government offices, and effectively robbed the public
Many of the methods used by political machines to gain profit were illegal
These illegal profits were used to keep the party in power; the profits from Tammany hall were used to keep Tweed and the Democrats in power

5. Methods of corruption
Immigrants were taken advantage of because of poor education
Controlled public jobs
Kickbacks for those that voted in their favor
Grafts
Many party bosses used grafting to take money from public treasuries
Fake expenses on construction projects and other general public contracting were a popular graft
Tweed used this frequently
Raised property taxes on those who opposed them
Bribery was used to persuade people to vote, usually with jobs

6. Effects of political machine
Gave a small, wealthy group of people power
Made the rich richer
Robbed money from the general public
Taken from tax dollars and local treasuries
Twisted the arms of voters in order to vote for them
Took things out of context to gain support
Used methods listed
Created slums
Depressed the economy of cities
Larger economic differences between rich and poor