1. Politics in the Gilded Age
7.3 Notes

2. Emergence of Political Machines
Organized group that controlled activities of a political party
Offered service to voters/businesses in exchange for political or financial support
Controlled local gov’ts in major cities (SF, NY)

3. Local Precinct Workers and Captains
City Boss
controlled activities
of political
party throughout the city
Ward Boss
secured votes in all precincts
in the ward or electoral district
Local Precinct Workers and Captains
gained voter support on city a
city block or neighborhood

4. Political Boss Controlled access to municipal jobs, business licenses
Influenced courts
Used power to build parks, sewer systems, waterworks
Gave $ to schools, hospitals, orphanages
Provide gov’t support for new businesses
Solving urban problems = voter loyalty

6. Immigrants and the Machine
Precinct captains and bosses often immigrants
Worked there way up the system
Could speak to immigrants in native language
Understood their challenges
Helped with naturalization, housing, jobs
Immigrants returned the favor with votes

7. Election Fraud and Graft
Voting fraud if not enough votes to win
Fake names to cast multiple votes
Political machines got candidates in office
Opportunities for graft – illegal use of political influence for personal gain
Took kickbacks – illegal payments for services
Favors granted to businesses in return for cash
Bribes to allow gambling
Police rarely interfered

9. William M. Tweed = “Boss Tweed” and head of Tammany Hall
Tweed Ring – group of corrupt politicians
New York County Courthouse
Construction cost $3 million
Cost taxpayers $13 million
Political cartoonist Thomas Nast exposed scandal
Tweed indicted on 120 counts of fraud, extortion
The Tweed Ring Scandal