1. Politics in the Gilded Age

2. Political Machines  Cities are expanding at a rapid rate  What’s this called?  New power structures form  New kinds of politicians rise  The “Party Boss”

3. Political Machines  Political Machines:  Organizations that control a political party in a city.  Offer services in exchange for support  Financial or political support  Gained control of local governments

4. Political Machines  Bottom: Local precinct captains  Get support for candidates  Middle: Ward Boss  Work to get out the vote  Top: Party Boss  Control the party, hands out favors

5. Political Boss  Controls access to municipal jobs  Police, Fire Dept., Sanitation  Business licenses  City Spending (parks, sewers, waterworks)

6. Immigrants and the Machine  Control the masses…  Told what to vote and threatened them to vote a certain way!