1. Corruption, Greed, Graft, & Dreams Of Change
The Gilded Age
A Tale Of
Corruption, Greed, Graft,
& Dreams Of Change
AP United States History
Unit 6 Gilded Age & Second Industrial Revolution

2. Gilded Age
Political Machines

3. Gilded Age Political Machines The Rise Of The Machines
Dominated through the complacency and conservatism of the voting public.
Prevailing political and business ideology of the time.
Ideal of limited, "do-little” governments combines with business and social ideals of the era, including laissez-faire economics and Social Darwinism.
Federal courts narrowly interpreted the government's power to regulate business.
Pulling the Parties Back From The Brink

4. Gilded Age Political Machines Campaign Tactics
Elections were extremely close because both parties were very similar.
Characterized by brass bands, buttons, picnics, and free beer.
Did little discussion of actual issues.
High voter turnout rates due to party identification and loyalty.
Based more on regional, religious, and ethnic ties.
Balancing the Two Parties

5. Gilded Age Political Machines Campaign Tactics
Republicans keep the memories of the Civil War alive, reminding millions of people of the struggles of the war and the role of the Democrats.
Core Republicans came from the middle-class and were WASPS, but also had a large following from reformers and African-Americans.
Referred to as “waving the bloody flag.”
Thomas Nast’s
Republican Elephant

6. Gilded Age Political Machines Campaign Tactics
Democrats after 1877.
Could count on winning the “Solid South” every year.
Northern strength came from city political machines and immigrant votes.
Strange mix: Southern WASPs with Roman Catholics, Jews, and immigrants.
Still focused on states’ rights and limited federal government.
Democratic Party Donkey

7. Gilded Age Political Machines Party Patronage
No active legislative agenda, so both parties focused political power on gaining office, holding it, and providing government jobs to the party faithful.
No Questions Asked Politics

8. Gilded Age Political Machines Machines Defined
Well-organized political parties that dominated city governments.
Provided public services for the people in return for power and votes.
Party bosses.
Managed the political machines.
Dictated city ordinances and made deals with business leaders.
Controlled district leaders, city officials, and council members.
Demanded bribes for positions, contracts, or favors.

9. Gilded Age Political Machines Origins Of The Machine
Machines fill the political vacuum.
As immigrants entered the cities, middle-class leaders moved to the suburbs.
Created a political power vacuum.
Irish immigrants that had been here for a while become leaders.
Can speak English.
Understood the American political process through experience.
Nast Cartoon Of Boss tweed

10. Gilded Age Political Machines Origins Of The Machine
United the new immigrants into a powerful political force.
Immigrants voted for people who provide services for them and help them out.
Middle-class, established Americans who were running for office received little support from the new immigrants.
Immigrants Arrive At Ellis Island

11. Gilded Age Political Machines Origins Of The Machine
Cities need services.
Political machines provided the services that the people need.
Jobs in the inner city.
The machines either provided jobs or found jobs for recent immigrants.
Wanted votes and favors in return.
Welfare, the law, and education.
If you needed food, were in trouble with the law, or wanted an education, you went to a city boss first.

12. Gilded Age Political Machines Problems: Election Fraud
Created distrust among honest citizens about government.
Different techniques.
One person means more than one vote.
Registration of dead and nonexistent people.
Voting in more than one district.
Stuffing of the ballot box.
Under The Thumb Of Tweed

13. Gilded Age Political Machines Problems: Graft & Kickbacks
Acquiring money or political power through illegal or dishonest means.
Bribes and payoffs for contracts or favors are the most common.
Kickbacks.
Payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract that would be “kick-backed” to the politician or boss who allowed the contract.

14. Gilded Age Political Machines Problems: Graft & Kickbacks
Tweed Ring: Who Stole The People’s Money?

15. Gilded Age Political Machines Names: Tammany Hall
William Marcy Tweed.
Head of Tammany Hall and the “Tweed Ring.”
Sent party workers to the docks to recruit immigrants as they came off the boat.
Provided food, a small amount of money, and literature.
Would be jailed for taking nearly $40 million in graft, kickbacks, and public tax dollars.
William Marcy Tweed

16. Gilded Age Political Machines Names: William Marcy Tweed
Boss Tweed In Education
Boss Tweed, King Of New York

17. Gilded Age Political Machines Names: William Marcy Tweed
The Tammany Tiger Killing Lady Liberty
With Emperor Tweed Looking On

18. Gilded Age Political Machines Names: William Marcy Tweed
Boss Tweed’s Fall
Boss Tweed Welcoming Cholera

19. Gilded Age Political Machines Names: James Pendergast
Kansas City, Missouri.
Did not discriminate. Was charming and good-natured.
Provided jobs to the Irish, Italian, and African Americans.
James Pendergast

20. Gilded Age Political Machines Names: John F. Fitzgerald
Local boss in Boston who would eventually become mayor of Boston.
JFK With His Father, Joseph Kennedy and Grandfather, John F. Fitzgerald

21. Gilded Age Political Machines Names: Thomas Nast
Cartoonist who tried to expose Tammany Hall.
Since many immigrants could not read English, he believed the best way to communicate was through pictures.
Thomas Nast

22. Nast’s Take On The Compromise Of 1877
Gilded Age Political Machines Nast: Known For Three Cultural/Political Achievements
#1—Political Cartoons Of Boss Tweed, Political Corruption, & The Robber Barons
Nast’s Take On The Compromise Of 1877

23. #2—Design/Development Of The Mascots For the Republicans & Democrats
Gilded Age Political Machines Nast: Known For Three Cultural/Political Achievements
#2—Design/Development Of The Mascots For the Republicans & Democrats
Nast Donkey
Nast Elephant

24. #3—Classic Depiction Of Santa Claus
Gilded Age Political Machines Nast: Known For Three Cultural/Political Achievements
#3—Classic Depiction Of Santa Claus
Nast’s Santa Claus
Nast’s Santa Claus