Fraud and Bribery in Gilded Age Politics

Bribery: consequence of American politics and the spoils system. Elected officials appointed friends and supporters to government jobs, regardless of their qualifications. Government swarmed with unqualified, dishonest employees. Ensured them a loyal group of supporters in future elections. Both Democrats and Republicans handed out jobs to pay off the people who had helped them get elected. System led to corruption when dishonest appointees used their jobs for personal profits.

Political Machines Cities were controlled by political machines Organizations of politicians whose main goal was to get and keep political power, money, and influence by any means necessary

Political Corruption Served the interests of Dishonest Politicians and those who bribed them Weakened Political influence on average Americans Distorted and Undermined democracy

Tammany Hall William “Boss” Tweed: infamous head of the Tammany Hall machine of New York Helped people in exchange for vote at election time Pay for funeral, feed family, etc.

Corruption in Cities Bosses controlled access to city jobs and business Opportunities With a good word from a boss, a poorly qualified person could land a job in place of a capable applicant To get a city work contract, a company had to donate to the machine’s reelection campaign Businesses also paid politicians to keep them from interfering with their activities; pay-offs / bribery Also controlled elections Often used fraud to win at the polls Candidates might pay citizens for their votes or stuff ballot box with phony votes Maintained control of cities

Corruption at the National Level Senators Constitution gave power to choose senators to state legislatures Corporations often bribed legislators to elect their favorite candidates Patronage- giving jobs to friends and supporters Some of these jobs went to unqualified people Pendleton Act : limited patronage Set guidelines for hiring civil service employees- nonmilitary government workers Exams to new applicants for government jobs