1. Objectives for the Day:
Identify Thomas Nast and his contributions to society
Understand Political Machines and their influence in politics
Identify characteristics of Political Machines
Compare and Contrast the positives/negatives of Political Machines

2. Political Cartoon Presentation

3. Gilded Age Quiz
What years did the Gilded Age take place?
Where does the “Gilded Age” get it’s name from?
What is the underlying theme of the “Gilded Age”?
Identify one person that prospered during the Gilded Age.
Who controlled the government during the Gilded Age?

4. Political Machines I. Political Machines A. Elements B. Process
C. Layers
II. News Media
A. Thomas Nast
B. Boss Tweed

5. What is a Political Machine?
A. Elements
What is a Political Machine?
Consisted of three elements:
“Bosses” oversee the party machine and controls politicians
Mobilize/organize support at the neighborhood level –
“Grassroots Campaign”
Party loyalists support the machine with votes and financial support

6. Political Machines I. Political Machines A. Elements B. Process
C. Layers
II. News Media
A. Thomas Nast
B. Boss Tweed

7. How does a Political Machine work?
B. Process
How does a Political Machine work?
3-Step Process:
1. Political Machine mobilizes voters
2. Politicians have to create policies to support the goals of the machine
3. Political Machine promised jobs for supporters

8. Political Machines I. Political Machines A. Elements B. Process
C. Layers
II. News Media
A. Thomas Nast
B. Boss Tweed

9. Layers of the Political Machine
C. Layers
Layers of the Political Machine
Bosses dealt with government officials, businessmen, criminal elements
Precinct captains mobilized voters in the area by forming relationships
with families

10. What do Precinct Captains do?
C. Layers
What do Precinct Captains do?
1. Help family members get jobs
2. Run a small social service organization - provide food, shelter
3. Provided cheap immigrant labor for businesses that support the
Political Machine

11. Political Machines I. Political Machines A. Elements B. Process
C. Layers
II. News Media
A. Thomas Nast
B. Boss Tweed

12. Who are the Muckrakers? II. News Media
People who wrote to expose the evils in society and businesses

13. Political Machines I. Political Machines A. Elements B. Process
C. Layers
II. News Media
A. Thomas Nast
B. Boss Tweed

14. Who was Thomas Nast? A. Thomas Nast Political Cartoonist
Disliked Political Machines
Influenced elections
Created:
Democratic Symbol – Donkey
Republican Symbol – Elephant
Modern-day Santa Claus

15. Thomas Nast Questions A. Thomas Nast
Why would Nast choose a Donkey to represent the Democrats?
Why would Nast choose an Elephant to represent the Republicans?
How do you think Nast felt about Democrats? Explain.

16. Political Machines I. Political Machines A. Elements B. Process
C. Layers
II. News Media
A. Thomas Nast
B. Boss Tweed

17. Who was Boss Tweed? B. Boss Tweed
"Stop them damn pictures. I don't care what the papers write about me. My constituents can't read. But, damn it, they can see the pictures."

18. Political Machine Questions
Step 1
1. Why do you think Political Machines were able to come to power?
2. Do you think that everyone saw the political machines as being negative?
Why or why not?
Step 2
Create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the “Positive” and “Negative”
actions of the Political Machines.
Step 3
Draw 4 pictures symbolizing something you learned about the Gilded Age and
Political Machines. You must briefly identify each picture.