The Rise of Gilded Age Political Machines

1. The Gilded Age A Tale Of Corruption, Greed, Graft, & Dreams Of Change AP United States History Unit 6 Gilded Age & Second Industrial Revolution

2. Gilded Age Political Machines

3. Gilded Age Political MachinesThe Rise Of The Machines • Dominated through the complacency and conservatism of the voting public. • Prevailing political and business ideology of the time. • Ideal of limited, "do-little” governments combines with business and social idealsof the era, including laissez-faire economics and Social Darwinism. • Federal courts narrowly interpreted the government's power to regulate business. Pulling the Parties Back From The Brink http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t010/T010304A.jpg

4. Gilded Age Political MachinesCampaign Tactics • Elections were extremely close because both parties were very similar. • Characterized by brass bands, buttons, picnics, and free beer. • Did little discussion of actual issues. • High voter turnout rates due to party identification and loyalty. • Based more on regional, religious, and ethnic ties. Balancing the Two Parties http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/content/images/NEH/title2.jpg

5. Gilded Age Political MachinesCampaign Tactics • Republicans keep the memories of the Civil War alive, reminding millions of people of the struggles of the war and the role of the Democrats. • Core Republicans came from the middle-class and were WASPS, but also had a large following from reformers and African-Americans. • Referred to as “waving the bloody flag.” Thomas Nast’s Republican Elephant http://www.picturehistory.com/images/products/1/3/8/prod_13811.jpg

6. Gilded Age Political MachinesCampaign Tactics • Democrats after 1877. • Could count on winning the “Solid South” every year. • Northern strength came from city political machines and immigrant votes. • Strange mix: Southern WASPs with Roman Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. • Still focused on states’ rights and limited federal government. Democratic Party Donkey http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/1711378.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=A5A4D933C17D7FDE9CA95F286F19E576A55A1E4F32AD3138

7. Gilded Age Political MachinesParty Patronage • No active legislative agenda, so both parties focused political power on gainingoffice, holding it, and providing government jobs to the party faithful. No Questions Asked Politics http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/images/1204tweedledee_big.jpg

8. Gilded Age Political MachinesMachines Defined • Political machines. • Well-organized political parties that dominated city governments. • Provided public services for the people in return for power and votes. • Party bosses. • Managed the political machines. • Dictated city ordinances and made deals with business leaders. • Controlled district leaders, city officials, and council members. • Demanded bribes for positions, contracts, or favors.

9. Gilded Age Political MachinesOrigins Of The Machine • Machines fill the political vacuum. • As immigrants entered the cities, middle-class leaders moved to the suburbs. • Created a political power vacuum. • Irish immigrants that had been here for a while become leaders. • Can speak English. • Understood the American political process through experience. Nast Cartoon Of Boss tweed http://dase.laits.utexas.edu/media/american_politics_collection/viewitem/000117147_400.jpg

10. Gilded Age Political MachinesOrigins Of The Machine • United the new immigrants into a powerful political force. • Immigrants voted for people who provide services for them and help them out. • Middle-class, established Americans who were running for office received little support from the new immigrants. Immigrants Arrive At Ellis Island http://www.lewrockwell.com/ostrowski/immigrants.jpg

11. Gilded Age Political MachinesOrigins Of The Machine • Cities need services. • Political machines provided the services that the people need. • Jobs in the inner city. • The machines either provided jobs or found jobs for recent immigrants. • Wanted votes and favors in return. • Welfare, the law, and education. • If you needed food, were in trouble with the law, or wanted an education, you went to a city boss first.

12. Gilded Age Political MachinesProblems: Election Fraud • Created distrust among honest citizens about government. • Different techniques. • One person means more than one vote. • Registration of dead and nonexistent people. • Voting in more than one district. • Stuffing of the ballot box. Under The Thumb Of Tweed http://www.kennethackerman.com/images/BossTweedPicture2.jpg

13. Gilded Age Political MachinesProblems: Graft & Kickbacks • Graft. • Acquiring money or political power through illegal or dishonest means. • Bribes and payoffs for contracts or favors are the most common. • Kickbacks. • Payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract that would be “kick-backed” to the politician or boss who allowed the contract.

14. Gilded Age Political MachinesProblems: Graft & Kickbacks Tweed Ring: Who Stole The People’s Money? http://brokenspines.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/nast.jpg

15. Gilded Age Political MachinesNames: Tammany Hall • William Marcy Tweed. • Head of Tammany Hall and the “Tweed Ring.” • Sent party workers to the docks to recruit immigrants as they came off the boat. • Provided food, a small amount of money, and literature. • Would be jailed for taking nearly $40 million in graft, kickbacks, and public tax dollars. William Marcy Tweed http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1HM_-KHZ5K4/R3B5_53bKlI/AAAAAAAABiQ/NcHBpk5rFjY/s400/20051027-boss-tweed.jpg

16. Gilded Age Political MachinesNames: William Marcy Tweed Boss Tweed In Education http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/csl0670l.jpg Boss Tweed, King Of New York http://www.classwars.org/boss.gif

17. Gilded Age Political MachinesNames: William Marcy Tweed The Tammany Tiger Killing Lady Liberty With Emperor Tweed Looking On http://www.kennethackerman.com/images/BossTweedPicture8.jpg

18. Gilded Age Political MachinesNames: William Marcy Tweed Boss Tweed’s Fall http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/3248868.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=DCB332A6E7C66BD3E57223CDB18EF41CA55A1E4F32AD3138 Boss Tweed Welcoming Cholera http://www.scienceclarified.com/everyday/images/scet_03_img0270.jpg

19. Gilded Age Political MachinesNames: James Pendergast • Kansas City, Missouri. • Did not discriminate. Was charming and good-natured. • Provided jobs to the Irish, Italian, and African Americans. James Pendergast http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/thumbnails/thumb2006-187.jpg

20. Gilded Age Political MachinesNames: John F. Fitzgerald • Local boss in Boston who would eventually become mayor of Boston. JFK With His Father, Joseph Kennedy and Grandfather, John F. Fitzgerald http://www.jfklibrary.org/NR/rdonlyres/BF7561D7-9EAC-44F4-9A1A-27B6E75502F8/23186/BF7561D79EAC44F49A1A27B6E75502F9.jpg

21. Gilded Age Political MachinesNames: Thomas Nast • Cartoonist who tried to expose Tammany Hall. • Since many immigrants could not read English, he believed the best way to communicate was through pictures. Thomas Nast http://www.old-picture.com/mathew-brady-studio/pictures/Thomas-Nast.jpg

22. Gilded Age Political MachinesNast: Known For Three Cultural/Political Achievements #1—Political Cartoons Of Boss Tweed, Political Corruption, & The Robber Barons Nast’s Take On The Compromise Of 1877 http://www.old-picture.com/mathew-brady-studio/pictures/Thomas-Nast.jpg

23. Gilded Age Political MachinesNast: Known For Three Cultural/Political Achievements #2—Design/Development Of The Mascots For the Republicans & Democrats Nast Donkey http://pro.corbis.com/images/DEC644-17.jpg?size=67&uid=%7B5AFCA61B-68DE-45C2-B992-BE339CD7AADF%7D Nast Elephant http://www.thedemocratdonkey.com/images/nastpoliticalillos_04.gif

24. Gilded Age Political MachinesNast: Known For Three Cultural/Political Achievements #3—Classic Depiction Of Santa Claus Nast’s Santa Claus http://www.victoriana.com/christmas/images/nast1892.jpg Nast’s Santa Claus http://www.seanet.com/~jimxc/Politics/santa_claus50.jpg