1. Politics in the Gilded Age

2. Objectives
Explain the role of the political machines and political bosses
Describe how some politicians’ greed and fraud cost the taxpayers millions of dollars
Describe the measures taken by presidents Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur to reform the spoils system
Explain the positions taken by presidents Cleveland, Harrison, and McKinley on the tariff issue

3. The Emergence of Political Machines
The Political Machine
Political machine
An organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city
Worked like a pyramid
Baltimore
New York
San Francisco
Captains
Gain voter support in a city block or neighborhood
Captains would do favor or help out the poor to ensure votes for their boss

4. The Emergence of Political Machines
The Role of the Political Boss
Like a major
Controlled access to municipal jobs
Built parks
Sewer systems
Waterworks
Donated money to
Schools
Hospitals
Orphanages
Bosses backed new business and were paid well to do so
The benefits were money and control of the public’s vote

5. The Emergence of Political Machines
Immigrants and the Machine
Many captains & bosses were 1st of 2nd generation immigrants
Helped with problems
Naturalizing
Housing
Jobs
In return he immigrants gave them votes

6. Municipal Graft and Scandal
Election Fraud and Graft
The Tweed Ring Scandal
Sometimes real votes weren’t enough
Graft
Illegal use of political influence for personal gain
“kick backs”
Bribes
Boss Tweed
William M. Tweed
NYC Democratic party boss
New York County Courthouse
Cost to taxpayers
$13 million
Actual cost to build
$3 million
120 counts of fraud

7. Civil Service Replaces Patronage
Patronage Spurs Reform
Patronage
Giving government jobs to people to had helped a candidate get elected
“Spoils system”
Civil Service
Bases government jobs on most qualified no matter what the person’s political views

8. Civil Service Replaces Patronage
Reform Under Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur
Rutherford B. Hayes
Appointed independents
Investigated customhouse
James A. Garfield
Appointed reformers
Was shot by a man seeking office
Chester A. Arthur
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Authorized bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments

9. Business Buys Influence
Harrison, Cleveland, and High Tariffs
Politicians turn to big business
Grover Cleveland
Tried to lower tariffs
Elected to non consecutive terms
Benjamin Harrison
Ran on high tariff platform
Harrison wins electoral college but not popular vote