1. Politics in the Gilded Age
#36 Chapter 7 Section 3
Politics in the Gilded Age
OBJECTIVE: Understand how political machines operated and how reformers tried to stop them.

2. I. The Emergence of Political Machines
Political Machine---organized group that controlled a city’s political party.
Provided jobs and services to immigrants and the poor.
Gain control of major cities.

3. City boss served as the head of the political machine.
Many city bosses were 1st or 2nd generation Americans.
Machines help immigrants with naturalization, jobs, housing.
Tammany Hall was the name of a NY City political machine.

4. II. Municipal Graft and Scandal
Political machines helped immigrants with many services but this led to political corruption (graft)
Election fraud
Tweed Ring Scandal
Political Machines eventually fade away.
Why???

6. III. Civil Service Replaces Patronage
Patronage (Spoils System)--- giving of government jobs to friends and supporters.
Reformers (want to eliminate patronage) vs. Stalwarts (want to maintain patronage).
Reformers want to give jobs in Civil Service--- (government administration) to the most qualified persons.
Pendleton Civil Service Act--- authorized a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to federal jobs. Ends patronage (spoils system).

7. IV. Business Buys Influence
Politicians turn to wealthy business owners for campaign contributions.
Led to strong alliance between government and big business.
Big businesses favor higher tariffs.
high tariffs (Republicans) = helps U.S. businesses
low tariffs (Democrats) = helps lower prices for consumers.

8. Ch.7.3 Q’s- Use complete sentences
List positive and negative aspects of political machines.
Describe a typical person who political machines helped?
Describe patronage (spoils system). Why was it used?
Why was there a need to replace patronage?
Why did U.S. big business support high tariffs?