Big Business and Politics NPR Questions What is this political cartoon called? Who are the people sitting? Who are the people standing behind them? What were the tools of political corruption, according to Roosevelt? What did the muckrakers do? When did corporate hold on politics make a comeback? What is the difference between our time and the time of the cartoon?

Political Machines “Cash rules everything around me.” --Wu Tang Clan “You’ve been hit by, you’ve been struck by a smooth criminal” --Michael Jackson

Gilded Age Known for corruption and extreme wealth for some Gilded Age -- coined by Mark Twain Money is everywhere--everything

Corruption in the Cities Political Machines: Informal political organization designed to gain and keep power, led by a party boss Provided jobs, food, and housing for immigrants in exchange for their vote Effects: Cities/districts run by political machines Kickbacks (under the table money) Graft (thievery in office)

The Tweed Ring Boss Tweed: New York City party boss He practiced patronage: granting favors in return for political support; Tweed eventually caught, prosecuted for graft Tammany Hall (1860s-1870s): nickname for political machine in NYC led by Tweed Thomas Nast: political cartoonist who brought corruption of political machines to everyone’s attention  especially targeted Boss Tweed

Corruption In Federal Government Under President Grant… Credit Mobilier Scandal – Credit Mobilier was a railroad construction company who hired themselves to build railroad using govt money Charged more than it cost for the actual construction, pocketing the profit

Tariffs It’s a tax on imports - highest tariff yet is McKinley Tariff Raised after Civil War to protect American industry—businesses like them, consumers don’t In 1885, tariffs earned the U.S. $100 million in surplus (leads to corruption)

Attempts at Reform Sherman Antitrust Act – outlawed monopolies and any organization that restricted trade or competition Did not apply to manufacturing Pendleton Act – Created merit system for government jobs, requiring them to pass an exam and interview  ended spoils system