The Gilded Age Unit 2.4

Corruption in Politics During President Grant’s Administration - Whiskey Ring: Internal-Revenue collectors were accepting bribes from whiskey distillers who wanted to avoid paying taxes.

Credit Mobilier Scandal A Railroad company was given a contract by the government to build its tracks through the West. They took the money Congress gave them and only used a small portion of it to pay for the operation. The rest, they pocketed. AND several congressmen held shares in the company.

Political Machine Derived from a climate influenced by Social Darwinism. Controlled the activities of a political party. Offered business in exchange for political or financial support.

Organization Political Boss: Held the power of mayor of a city, but not office Access to municipal jobs and business licenses Influenced the courts

Immigrants and the Machine Many immigrants became precinct captains and political bosses They could speak their language and they understood the challenges newcomers faced. Offered services like: naturalization attaining full citizenship housing and jobs All For Votes

Municipal Graft and Scandal Election Fraud: Using fake names Cast as many votes as necessary Graft: Illegal use of political influence for personal gain: “Kick Back” Use of tax payer’s money to sneak into the pockets of politicians. Accepted bribes to allow illegal activities Police did not interfere because political bosses hired them

Patronage Once a president took office, he hired political supporters to federal jobs. In 1881, President James Garfield promised to stop the patronage system.

Assassination of President Garfield Charles Guiteau believed Garfield owed him a job in the diplomatic corps. Guiteau shot Garfield on July 2, afe=active

Civil Service/Pendleton Act Government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit. Selection of gov. employees through exams. Attempt to stop businesses from funding political campaigns.

William M. Tweed (Boss Tweed) Became head of Tammany Hall, New York City’s powerful Democratic political machine Between 1869 and 1871, he led the Tweed Ring: group of corrupt politicians

Thomas Nast Political cartoonist Helped arouse public outrage against Tweed Tweed indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion Sentenced to 12 years in jail Reduced to 1 year Got out arrested again, escaped to Spain, arrested again

In reference to these pictures, Tweed once said, “Stop those danged pictures! I don’t care what the papers say about me; my constituents can’t read. But dang it, they can see pictures”