Ch.7 Section 3 Politics in the Gilded Age

Emergence of Political Machines The Political Machine An organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city Offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for financial support Worked like a pyramid: bottom level- precinct captain, mid level- ward boss, top level-party boss Role of Political Boss Controlled access to municipal jobs and business licenses; influenced courts Roscoe Conkling of NY helped build parks, sewer systems, and waterworks Getting kickbacks was good, but solving urban problems won voter loyalty

Emergence of Political Machines Immigrants and the Machine Many precinct captains and political bosses were first or second generation immigrants “Big Jim” Pendergast became Democratic boss of Kansas City By 1900, he controlled Missouri state politics

Municipal Graft Scandal Election Fraud and Graft When loyalty was not enough to win an election, some tried fraud Party members would vote using fake names Graft- illegal use of political influence for personal gain Mostly through kickbacks granted favors to businessmen in return for cash and accepted bribes to allow illegal activities Police rarely interfered because they were hired and fired by political bosses

Tweed Ring Scandal William “Boss” Tweed became head of Tammany Hall (Democratic political machine) in 1868 Between he and some followers defrauded the city of New York New York City Courthouse Construction cost- $3 million; city was charged $13 million Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and sentenced to 12 years in jail (reduced to one year) Tweed eventually fled to Spain

Civil Service Replaces Patronage Patronage Spurs Reform Patronage led to employees not being qualified for their jobs These positions would sometimes be used for personal gain Reformers began to press of a merit system of hiring all civil servants Reform Under Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep) Could not convince Congress to support reform Named independents to his cabinet and set up a commission to investigate customhouses(tax collection ) On the commission’s report, he fired two customhouse officials (Rep) New York party boss, Roscoe Conkling, and his supporters (Stalwarts) were enraged

Civil Service Replaces Patronage Reform Under James A. Garfield Hayes did not run for reelection James Garfield for P, and Chester Arthur (a Stalwart) for VP Garfield gave reformers most patronage jobs Garfield was assassinated by a Stalwart in 1881 Reform Under Chester A. Arthur Became a reformer as president Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) authorized a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to federal jobs based on past job performance and an examination Public administration became more honest Politicians turned to new sources for monetary support

Business Buys Influence President Grover Cleveland (1884) First Democratic president in 28 years Tried to lower tariff rates, but Congress refused Senator Benjamin Harrison grandson of William Henry Harrison Ran against Cleveland in 1888 election and won Campaign financed by large corporations that wanted tariffs to remain high McKinley Tariff Act raised tariff rates Cleveland reelected in 1892 Tariffs were lowered William McKinley- won1896 election Raised tariffs