1. Review: The Gilded Age

2. The Gilded Age "What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what way?--dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must. ” - Mark Twain "What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what way?--dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must. ” - Mark Twain

4. The Whiskey Ring (1875) Tax evasion scheme developed by the newly- empowered liberal Republican political machine in Missouri The schemers bribed and cajoled administrators in every phase of the production of whiskey to underreport their numbers to avoid paying the whiskey tax – and therefore significantly increasing their profits. The money was then diverted to the local political machine, to increase its power over potential rivals. Tax evasion scheme developed by the newly- empowered liberal Republican political machine in Missouri The schemers bribed and cajoled administrators in every phase of the production of whiskey to underreport their numbers to avoid paying the whiskey tax – and therefore significantly increasing their profits. The money was then diverted to the local political machine, to increase its power over potential rivals.

5. Rise of Political Machines An organized grp that controlled activities of a political party in a city Offered services to voters & businesses for political or financial support Controlled access to municipal jobs & business license Influenced cts & other municipal agencies Controlled precinct captains An organized grp that controlled activities of a political party in a city Offered services to voters & businesses for political or financial support Controlled access to municipal jobs & business license Influenced cts & other municipal agencies Controlled precinct captains

6. Rise of Political Machines Built parks, sewer systems, waterworks Gave $$ --> hospitals, schools, orphanages Distributed jobs to loyal supporters Reinforce voter loyalty --> extend influence Built parks, sewer systems, waterworks Gave $$ --> hospitals, schools, orphanages Distributed jobs to loyal supporters Reinforce voter loyalty --> extend influence

7. Immigrants & the machines Machines helped immigrants find jobs & temp housing Helped w/ naturalization Get voter loyalty Machines helped immigrants find jobs & temp housing Helped w/ naturalization Get voter loyalty

8. Graft & Scandal Many bosses --> corruption as their influence grew Not enough loyalty to carry election --> fraud Used fake names, legit voters would vote more than 1x Once in office - took advantage of opportunities for graft Illegal use of political influence for personal gain Many bosses --> corruption as their influence grew Not enough loyalty to carry election --> fraud Used fake names, legit voters would vote more than 1x Once in office - took advantage of opportunities for graft Illegal use of political influence for personal gain

9. Graft & Scandal Ex. By helping a person find work on a construction project for the city Contractor bills city for more than the cost of labor/materials Worker “kicked back” $$ -> machine Ex. By helping a person find work on a construction project for the city Contractor bills city for more than the cost of labor/materials Worker “kicked back” $$ -> machine

10. Boss Tweed William M. Tweed Head of Tammany Hall (NYC’s powerful Democratic political machine) Btwn 1869 & 1871 “Tweed Ring” - grp of corrupt politicians - defrauded city construction of NY County Cthouse Extravagant graft Cost $13 mill; actual cost $3 mill William M. Tweed Head of Tammany Hall (NYC’s powerful Democratic political machine) Btwn 1869 & 1871 “Tweed Ring” - grp of corrupt politicians - defrauded city construction of NY County Cthouse Extravagant graft Cost $13 mill; actual cost $3 mill

11. Boss Tweed Btwn 1865 & 1871 ~ 200 mill in graft Thomas Nast - political cartoonist - helped arouse public outrage Ring finally broken in 1871 Tweed indicted on 120 counts of fraud & extortion 12 yrs in jail Reduced to 1 yr; released; arrested for civil suit Escaped --> Spain --> captured when Spanish officials recognized him from Nast’s cartoons Btwn 1865 & 1871 ~ 200 mill in graft Thomas Nast - political cartoonist - helped arouse public outrage Ring finally broken in 1871 Tweed indicted on 120 counts of fraud & extortion 12 yrs in jail Reduced to 1 yr; released; arrested for civil suit Escaped --> Spain --> captured when Spanish officials recognized him from Nast’s cartoons

13. Nat’l Politics Patronage Giving gov’t jobs to ppl who had helped a candidate get elected “spoils system” Some not qualified, some used position for personal gain Reformers pressed for merit system Civil services, gov’t admin Patronage Giving gov’t jobs to ppl who had helped a candidate get elected “spoils system” Some not qualified, some used position for personal gain Reformers pressed for merit system Civil services, gov’t admin

15. Stalwarts v. Half-Breeds President Rutherford B. Hayes tried to reform gov’t Split Rep party Stalwarts; Half-Breeds Stalwarts led by Sen Roscoe Conkling Opposed reform Half-Breeds led by James Blaine President Rutherford B. Hayes tried to reform gov’t Split Rep party Stalwarts; Half-Breeds Stalwarts led by Sen Roscoe Conkling Opposed reform Half-Breeds led by James Blaine

16. Hayes, Garfield, Arthur Hayes decided not to run - reelection Half-Breeds won control of party ticket James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur as VP (Stalwart) Garfield & Arthur win! Garfield assassinated 07/02/1881 By Charles Guiteau - believed would further Stalwart cause Hayes decided not to run - reelection Half-Breeds won control of party ticket James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur as VP (Stalwart) Garfield & Arthur win! Garfield assassinated 07/02/1881 By Charles Guiteau - believed would further Stalwart cause

17. Arthur Assassination had opposite effect Arthur turns reformer! Pendleton Civil Service Act Est Civil Service Commission to admin exams to those seeking gov’t jobs 1. More honest/efficient 2. Caused politicians to look elsewhere for sources of $$ Arthur fails to get party nom in 1884 Assassination had opposite effect Arthur turns reformer! Pendleton Civil Service Act Est Civil Service Commission to admin exams to those seeking gov’t jobs 1. More honest/efficient 2. Caused politicians to look elsewhere for sources of $$ Arthur fails to get party nom in 1884

18. Grover Cleveland Wins election 1884 Reformer too! Doubles # of jobs requiring civil service exam Outraged Stalwarts Looses re-election to Ben Harrison But won popular vote BH & Congress undo reforms of GC Gave jobs to supporters Passed laws easily; spent a lot of $ on pet project “Billion Dollar Congress” Wins election 1884 Reformer too! Doubles # of jobs requiring civil service exam Outraged Stalwarts Looses re-election to Ben Harrison But won popular vote BH & Congress undo reforms of GC Gave jobs to supporters Passed laws easily; spent a lot of $ on pet project “Billion Dollar Congress”