1. Fraud and Bribery in Gilded Age Politics

3. Bribery: consequence of American politics and the spoils system.
Elected officials appointed friends and supporters to government jobs, regardless of their qualifications.
Government swarmed with unqualified, dishonest employees.
Ensured them a loyal group of supporters in future elections.
Both Democrats and Republicans handed out jobs to pay off the people who had helped them get elected.
System led to corruption when dishonest appointees used their jobs for personal profits.

4. Political Machines Cities were controlled by political machines
Organizations of politicians whose main goal was to get and keep political power, money, and influence by any means necessary

5. Political Corruption
Served the interests of Dishonest Politicians and those who bribed them
Weakened Political influence on average Americans
Distorted and Undermined democracy

6. Tammany Hall
William “Boss” Tweed: infamous head of the Tammany Hall machine of New York
Helped people in exchange for vote at election time
Pay for funeral, feed family, etc.

7. Corruption in Cities
Bosses controlled access to city jobs and business Opportunities
With a good word from a boss, a poorly qualified person could land a job in place of a capable applicant
To get a city work contract, a company had to donate to the machine’s reelection campaign
Businesses also paid politicians to keep them from interfering with their activities; pay-offs / bribery
Also controlled elections
Often used fraud to win at the polls
Candidates might pay citizens for their votes or stuff ballot box with phony votes
Maintained control of cities

8. Corruption at the National Level
Senators
Constitution gave power to choose senators to state legislatures
Corporations often bribed legislators to elect their favorite candidates
Patronage- giving jobs to friends and supporters
Some of these jobs went to unqualified people
Pendleton Act : limited patronage
Set guidelines for hiring civil service employees- nonmilitary government workers
Exams to new applicants for government jobs