1. Agenda
As you walk in, please turn in your Jacob Riis Photo Analysis.
Bell Ringer:
What is corruption? Can you think of any examples of corruption in recent years?
Notes: Chapter 7, Section 3
Politics in Cities
Essential Question: Who was Boss Tweed and how did he add to the mistrust of politicians?

2. Politics in cities
Chapter 7, Section 3

3. Political machines
Organized group that controls city’s political parties
Give service to voters, businesses for political and financial support
Machine organization
Precinct captains, ward bosses, city boss

4. Organization of political machine
City Boss
Ward Boss
Boss: controlled jobs, business licenses, influenced the court system
Precinct captains: often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants; helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes
Local Precinct Workers + Captains
Immigrants + Working Class

5. Political boss Whether or not he serves as mayor, he:
Controls city jobs, business licenses
Influenced courts and other municipal agencies
Arranged building projects and community services
Bosses were paid by business to get voters’ loyalty and extend their influence

6. Many political bosses were corrupt

7. graft
Many bosses got rich through graft – the illegal use of political influence for personal gain
To win elections, some filled the list of eligible voters with the names of their dogs, children, and the deceased, or even paying people to vote

8. Patronage v. civil service
The giving of government jobs to people who helped a candidate get elected
Also known as the spoils system
Remember Andrew Jackson?
Those same jobs should go to the most qualified individuals
Hays – attempts to make changes but not successful, does not run for re-election
Garfield-Arthur

10. Pendleton Civil Service Act
Ended patronage
Requires written test for governmental jobs
Bi-partisan civil service commission
Awards jobs based on merit, not connections

11. William “boss” Tweed Corrupt political leader put NYC in debt
1851 – elected to city council
1852 – served in Congress
Kept Democratic Party in power in NYC
Tammany Hall
Tweed Ring
Bought votes, encouraged corruption, controlled NYC politics
Tammany Hall – NYC’s most powerful Democratic machine
Between , Tweed led the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians, in defrauding the city
Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion, sentenced to 12 years in prison, released after one, arrested again, escaped to Spain

12. William “Boss” Tweed
Exposed for his corruption by cartoonist and editor Thomas Nast
Tweed Ring fell, and in 1873, Tweed was convicted of embezzlement
Later, Tweed was arrested on a civil charge and jailed in NYC, later died there

13. boss tweed

14. Your task
Analyze the political cartoon using the cartoon analysis worksheet
Read the article about Boss Tweed and answer the questions listed at the bottom on the back of the sheet
You must do all 3 questions
Once you’ve done this, make sure to go back and answer the essential question from your notes