1. Political Machines

2. I. Urban Political Machines A.Emerged in major cities, such as Baltimore, New York, and San Francisco after the Civil War B.Organizations that controlled all of the activities of a political party in a city C.Offered citizens services, jobs, or favors in exchange for their votes or financial support D.Run by city bosses who controlled access to government jobs and business licenses and influenced the courts and other agencies E.Led to election fraud and political corruption

3. II. Responses by Immigrants A.Got help with their most urgent problems. City bosses offered them jobs, housing, or help with becoming full citizens in exchange for their votes B.For this reason, many immigrants supported the political machines. C.Some immigrants worked their way up in the political machine organization. D.Their knowledge of the needs and language of immigrants put them in a good position to secure the immigrants’ votes.

4. III. Responses by Middle-Class Reformers A.Wanted city government to be more responsive to citizens and more efficient B.Distrusted immigrants’ power in politics C.Galveston, Texas, pioneered the use of a commission of experts to run the city. 1.By 1917, commissions ran 500 cities. D.Other cities adopted council manager forms of government. 1.Citizens elected a city council, which appointed a manager. 2.Usually, the manager was someone trained in public administration. 3.Managers ran nearly 250 cities by 1925. E.Some mayors instituted reforms and encouraged citizens to take an active role in managing cities.

5. Review 1.How did political machines control local elections? 2.Why did immigrants often supported political machines? 3.What role did some immigrants play in running political machines? 4.Why did the city boss system lead to corruption? 5.What were political machines organized to do?

6. UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL CARTOONS

7. How does the cartoon illustrate the idea of “pass-the- buck”?

8. How does this cartoon illustrate a political machine at work?

9. Activity  Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter and your editor has assigned you to write an article about finding where “the buck stops” in a political machine.  Write an article that traces a bribe from contractor to politician, using images from the cartoon.