• Political Machines (Packet Political Machines (Packet reading)reading)

Analyze political cartoons about Analyze political cartoons about the Tweed Ring political machine.the Tweed Ring political machine.

Understand how political Understand how political machines operated in the United machines operated in the United States.States.

QuizQuiz

Model

Interpretation:

Label at least twoexamples of symbolism:

Emergence of the Political Emergence of the Political MachineMachine

Inefficient municipal government allowed the “machine” to emerge.

ImmigrantsImmigrants who needed assistance upon arrival to the U.S. turned to the political machine instead of the government for help.

Political machines were well organized groups that controlled a political party in a city and offered services to voters in exchange for votes.

Machine OrganizationMachine Organization

City BossCity Boss

Ward BossWard Boss

Precinct CaptainsPrecinct Captains

Ward WorkersWard Workers

Emergence of the Political Emergence of the Political MachineMachine

Political machines were well organized groups that controlled a political party in a city and offered services to voters in exchange for votes.

Role of the “City Boss” controlled thousands of jobs (police, fire,

sanitation, clerical within the government) which in turn controlled licensing, building inspections, the courts and even mayors… and thus lies the POWER!!POWER!!

Emergence of the Political Emergence of the Political MachineMachine

Examples of Political Machine “Bosses” New York Senator Roscoe Conkling Kansas City “Big Jim” Pendergast and his younger brother Thomas. New York City William Marcy Tweed

Machines helped new immigrants adjust to life in America.

Emergence of the Political Emergence of the Political MachineMachine

Examples of Machine CorruptionExamples of Machine Corruption Election fraud – voter registration lists were

“padded” Graft – taking money while in office for

services kickbacks bribes

MOST abusive machine? William Marcy TweedWilliam Marcy Tweed who controlled NYC’s

democratic political machine “Tammany Hall” ran the so-called “Tweed Ring” that pocketed over $200 million from 1869-1871.

Emergence of the Political Emergence of the Political MachineMachine

Built New York County Courthouse which cost taxpayers $11 million ($8million went to the machine!!)

Cartoonist Thomas Nast attacked Tweed Ring in NY Times, Harper’s Weekly.

1871 Tweed sentenced to 12 years in prison, escaped but recaptured in Spain.

Emergence of the Political Emergence of the Political MachineMachine

Machine bosses were similar to the great industrialists of the age such as Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan in that although they amassed huge fortunes (not always legally) they also had positive effects … a dichotomy. bosses assisted immigrants in getting

jobs, finding a place to live. industrialists oftentimes donated money

for libraries for the public.

The Political MachineThe Political Machine

In a 2-column chart, list as many In a 2-column chart, list as many advantages and disadvantages of the advantages and disadvantages of the political machine:political machine:

Advantages DisadvantagesAdvantages Disadvantages