https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns-qtoxnAS8

With the person sitting next to you: What are some similarities between most of the acts of corruption in NJ? Why does it seem like acts of corruption occur in certain locations more than others? Why are acts of corruption so common among politicians/in NJ politics?

Politics in Urban America

Urban Politics Cities grow fast & have lots of immigrants Not equip to deal with new issues The Political Machine – (“shadow government”) controlled the elected officials/city governments by getting their candidates elected Power was maintained by getting new immigrants to vote for machine candidate By 1910 immigrants made up more than ½ population 18 major cities! the political machine provided new immigrants with support such as jobs, housing, help with legal issues, et cetera… New issues – think schools size doubled all problems happen – even if get more administrators do not know how to deal. Things never experienced before. Do not know how to help – do not want to help … Called “shadow government”

The Political Machine The Boss - either the mayor or controlled the mayor Controlled jobs, licenses, courts, building projects Ward Bosses – in charge of a specific “ward”/section of NYC Captains – 1st/2nd generation immigrants who lived in the ethnic communities and immigrants went to when needed help Captains: Were immigrants ; Spoke languages in precincts; Understood problems, lived them Helped get citizenship, jobs, housing Ward Bosses: Was the person who did the favors; In charge of a specific part of NYC (i.e., ward) The Boss: Not necessarily an elected official (could be mayor or just controlled the mayor) Controlled jobs, licenses, influence in courts, built public works

If the machine did not get enough immigrant votes they would just… Rig elections “Vote Early and Often”! Fake names & addresses, deceased people, dogs, children In Philadelphia one ward politician boasted that, “One hundred years ago our forefathers voted for liberty in this city, and they vote here still!” More votes than people!!

Why did the police not stop this??? The Boss controlled hiring and firing of police officers and other city jobs!

Why did the political machine want to get candidates elected to badly Controlled city “coffers”/$$$ You wanted anything in the city, had to go through the boss first! Think of all the money needed to fix ills of the cities…

The Corruption Grafting –use of political influence/power for personal gain Who are politicians supposed to help????? Instead, who did they help??? Kick backs - Machine would chose a worker that contracted for a government job, the worker would charge more than necessary and kick back a fee to the political machine Taking bribes to allow illegal activity Saloons open on Sundays Gambling Controlled hiring and firing of police officers… Graft – prinicipal I will get you a job building a bridge, then overcharge for the bridge and give me some of the money (kick backs)!!! Kickbacks - Accepting bribes to allow illegal activity (gambling) Police officers fired if did not comply (hired and fired by the mayor) used influence to get friends to build the new field…

Boss Tweed Boss Tweed head NYC’s Political Machine - Tammany Hall (location democratic party) 1869-1871 Tweed Ring defrauded city more than $200 million The Court House construction Charged $13 million for a $250,000 project Exposed by T. Nast Arrested & died in jail In addition to rewarding supporters, they saw themselves as defending New York City from the residents of upstate New York and the New York state government who saw New York city as a ready source of funds to benefit upstate New York. In the 1930s, reform mayor Fiorello la Guardia, backed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, sharply reduced the power and influence of Tammany Hall. It was finally ended by another reform mayor, John V. Lindsay, in the 1960s. Tweed was indicted on 120counts of fraud andextortion Tweed was sentenced to 12years in jail – released afterone, arrested again, andescaped to Spain

Sound okay??? A carpenter was paid $360,751 (roughly $4.9 million today) for one month's labor in a building with very little woodwork. A furniture contractor received $179,729 ($2.5 million) for three tables and 40 chairs. the plasterer, got $133,187 ($1.82 million) for two days' work; his business acumen earned him the sobriquet "The Prince of Plasterers." When a committee investigated why it took so long to build the courthouse, it spent $7,718 ($105,000) to print its report. The printing company was owned by Tweed.

What does this tell you? Tweed-le-dee and Tilden-dum A Harper's Weekly cartoon depicts Tweed as a police officer saying to two boys, "If all the people want is to have somebody arrested, I'll have you plunderers convicted. You will be allowed to escape, nobody will be hurt, and then Tilden will go to the White House and I to Albany as Governor."

What are two positives and two negatives of political machines? The political machine helped immigrants in the short term, but hurt them in the long term Money “stolen” could have gone to programs to pull immigrants out of poverty Increased negative attitudes towards immigrants/immigrants blamed for electing these people Who is to blame for this system?