The Gilded Age Political Corruption

Political Machines Network of political activists bound together by personal loyalty to the boss or party organization each committed to cultivating and mobilizing voters in the neighborhood.

President Grant “Waving the Bloody Shirt” Patriotism, Prosperity, Morality “Vote as you shot” (GAR-General Army of the Republic) Post-war economic growth Tariff, monetary policies, land distribution “all wise and well directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality” Criticized Democrats

Credit Mobilier- Railroads Union Pacific Railroad creates construction company, Credit Mobilier Give themselves the contract to build the railroad (as much as $50,000 per mile) Company sold shares of stock to congressman to protect their interests (two vice presidents). Dividends 348 percent.

Grant Problems Whiskey Ring - Tax evasion Bribe acceptance - Secretary of War, William Belknap Congress voted themselves a 50% pay raise later repealed

Opposition within the Republican Party Roscoe Conkling- Stalwarts- Keep things the same...GOP Grand Old Party James Blaine-”Half Breeds” Change a little bit Civil Service Reform Horace Greeley- Liberal Republican Change a lot - laissez faire

Reform? Pendleton Act-Civil Service Reform, giving jobs on merit system instead of spoils system Sherman Antitrust Act-Weak attempt to regulate big business and outlaw monopolies-loopholes

Who is Thomas Nast? “Father of American Caricature” 1860- 1890 Campaign criticizing the NY Boss, William Magear Tweed Illustrations appeared in Harper’s Weekly Responsible for exposing political corruption in national and local politics First to use the donkey and elephant to represent the political parties

Who is Boss Tweed? Tweed became a powerful figure in Tammany Hall–New York City’s Democratic political machine–in the late 1850s. “Tweed Ring,” openly bought votes, encouraged judicial corruption, extracted millions from city contracts, and dominated New York City politics. The Tweed Ring reached its peak of fraudulence in 1871 with the remodeling of the City Court House, a blatant embezzlement of city funds that was exposed by The New York Times. Harper’s Weekly political cartoonist Thomas Nast, who conducted a crusade against Tweed, virtually every Tammany Hall member was swept from power in the elections of November 1871.