1. Corruption of the Gilded Age
“Boss Tweed” and the Political Machine

2. Who was William “Boss” Tweed?
Corrupt Politician
Ran a political machine known as Tammany Hall
“Tweed Ring” used political corruption to gain public support
Exposed for corruption in 1871 by Harper’s Weekly
Political cartoonist Thomas Nast used cartoons to criticize Tweed and corrupt politicians
This is just one example (most well known) of the corruption that plagued the US cities during the Gilded Age

3. So What Makes Political Machine a Political Machine?
A Political Machine is a corrupt political network
Usually controlled by a main “boss” who gains loyalty from others through bribery and kickbacks
Take advantage of new immigrants to gain votes
Public Works projects (sewer, parks, etc.) and improvements serve two purposes
Gain votes and support for the machine
Companies agree to overcharge for work, and then “kick back” money back to the politicians who contract them
For example, charge Govt. $500 for a $250 valued project, then give some of the profit back to the City Boss

5. Thomas Nast Campaign Against Tweed
Many of Boss Tweed’s voters couldn’t read
Thomas Nast used political cartoons to portray Tweed as corrupt (video)
Nast successful in greatly weakening public support for Tweed, leading to his ultimate downfall

6. Thomas Nast Created Political Cartoons to criticize and expose Tweed’s corruption in New York

7. What is being conveyed in this picture?

8. How is Tweed portrayed in these cartoons?

9. Who is this? How do you know?

10. Cartoons Help Bring Tweed to Justice
Tweed tried offering money to the newspaper to stop the cartoons and reports, but the paper refused
Tweed embezzled approximately 200 million dollars from the city
Spent rest of his life in prison, despite briefly escaping to Spain
Why do you think Nast’s Political Cartoon campaign successfully brought Tweed down from his corruption?

11. Contributions
Though corrupt, Political machines did help to develop city infrastructure with parks, sewers, electricity, roads, etc.
Very efficient in getting work done
Helped many immigrants to find jobs and gain a footing in the new country, even though it was often in exchange for support/votes