1. POLITICAL MACHINES AND THE GILDED AGE
The external glitter of wealth conceals a corrupt political core that reflects the growing gap between the very few rich and the very many poor.
America in the 1870’s-1890’s
-- Mark Twain

2. POLITICAL MACHINES
Group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city
Offer support services to voters/businesses in exchange for political/financial support

3. IMMIGRANTS AND POLITICAL MACHINES
Received sympathy & understanding
Many bosses could relate to immigrant problems
Immigrants would support machines in return

4. POWER CORRUPTS In order to win elections some bosses turned to fraud
Added fake names to voting lists
Received kickbacks from government contracts
Favors for businesses in return for gifts (graft)
Accept bribes to allow illegal activities to continue

5. TAMMANY HALL William “Boss” Tweed Chairman of Tammany Hall
Helped unite Democrats
Boss Tweed was head of Tammany from

6. BOSS TWEED
Tweed convinced the city legislature to give City government more control
Tweed sought rapid expansion of infrastructure (extending streets & sewers)
Tammany Hall gained much power and became caught up in one of the biggest political scandals of the nation’s history

7. THE TWEED RING
Corrupt politicians led by Tweed that used power to “line their pockets”
Pocketed $200 million through graft and kickbacks

8. THOMAS NAST Thomas Nast drew political cartoons for Harper’s Weekly
Began a campaign to expose the Tweed Ring
Tweed sentenced to 12 years
Led to political reform movement

9. NAST CARTOONS

10. SPOILS SYSTEM “To the victor go the spoils”
Most federal jobs given out by the President
Interfered with the function of government
A merit system was called for to give federal jobs to qualified people

11. ULYSSES S. GRANT 1869-1877 One of the worst examples of scandal
Congressmen received bribes/kickbacks
Cabinet cheated Indians on reservations
“Whiskey Ring” distillers bribed treasury official not to pay taxes

12. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES 1877-1880 Won disputed election “His Fraudulence”
Began civil service reform
Named independents to his cabinet
Investigated government corruption (fired 1,000)

13. JAMES A. GARFIELD 1881 Ties to reformers, but VP was Chester Arthur
Garfield gave most jobs to reformers
Garfield assassinated by someone that did not get a job

14. CHESTER A. ARTHUR 1881-1885 Turned reformer after he became President
Signed the Pendleton Act (1883)
Created commission to make appointments of federal jobs
Today 90% are merit jobs

15. PENDLETON ACT Increased number of merit jobs
Politicians could no longer uses spoils system to gain power (decrease of contributions)
Tie between government and big business became stronger