1. Gilded Age Politics

2. The Gilded Age Name comes from the title of an 1873 Mark Twain book
Referred to the “superficial glitter” of the new wealth that developed in the late 1800s
Dominated by a belief in limited government, laissez-faire economics, & Social Darwinism
Marked by political corruption & ineffectiveness

3. Gilded Age Politics
Era was most highly competitive politically in US history
Voter turnout reached highest levels in US history
Parties avoided controversial issues that might alienate voters
Led to issue-free campaigns focused on party loyalty & regional, religious, & ethnic ties

4. Political Parties Republican Party Democratic Party
Stressed strict codes of personal morality
Laissez faire attitudes on government’s involvement in regulating both economic affairs
Consisted of businessmen & African Americans
Support from Midwest & small & rural towns in northeast
Democratic Party
Opposed government efforts to impose a single moral standard on society
Emphasized economic equity and fairnesss
Consisted of many immigrant German Lutherans & Catholics (especially Irish)
Support from the Solid South & large industrial cities where immigrants factored in significantly under political machines

5. Republican Factions Stalwarts, Half-Breeds, and Mugwumps
Stalwarts: Led by Roscoe Conkling, Senator who favored spoils system
Half-Breeds: Led by James G. Blaine, Congressman who favored civil service reform
Mugwumps: Represented in thought by Thomas Nast
Made up of young liberal reformers
Favored Reconstruction policies to help African Americans
Anti-corruption

6. Political Corruption
Political Machines: Tightly organized groups of politicians that controlled the political parties in urban areas
Headed by a “boss”
Provided services to business, immigrants, & the poor in exchange for votes on election day
Exemplified by “Boss” William Tweed of the Tammany Hall machine (Tweed Ring) in NY city

7. Problems Lead to Political Machines
Problem: Cities grow so fast their gov’t (municipal) can’t keep up with needs of people
Solution: Political Machine steps in and provides services in exchange for votes and money
Goal of Pol. Mach: work to get their candidates elected
Transit, water & sewage systems, sanitation, protection

8. organized group that controlled things for a political party
Political Machines:
organized group that controlled things for a political party
All work together
To elect their
Candidates &
Ensure the success
Of the machine
city boss
ward bosses
precinct captains
precinct workers

9. Immigrants and the Political Machine
- Constituents (voters) are often immigrants
- Bosses and precinct captains often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants themselves
Knew the language, culture, and what was needed
Immigrants taken
advantage of

10. Corruption in the Machines
Fraud: cheating to win elections
ex: voting more than once
Graft: using political influence for personal gain
ex: Bribes - businesses offered money to get city contracts

11. Political Corruption
Politics focused on winning and holding office, not on issues or legislation
Led to an increase in patronage, i.e. giving away government offices for votes, kickbacks, & party service
Government employment expanded significantly (e.g. postal service)
Reformers targeted spoils system as being inefficient & corrupt

12. Led ring of corrupt politicians who defrauded New York City 1869-1871
“Boss Tweed”
* William M. Tweed was City Boss of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Pol. Mach. in NY
Led ring of corrupt politicians who defrauded New York City

14. WILLIAM BOSS TWEED
Exposed for his corruption by cartoonist and editor, Thomas Nast
Tweed Ring fell and 1873 Tweed convicted of embezzlement
Later Tweed was arrested on a civil charge and jailed in NYC, later died there