Politics in the Gilded Age Flashcards

Study Notes

Political Machines

Organized groups controlling a political party's activities in cities, offering services for political or financial support.
Local precinct workers seek voter support in neighborhoods, reporting to ward bosses who secure votes across precincts.
City bosses oversee the entire operation, collaborating with precinct captains and ward bosses to elect candidates.

Structure of Political Machines

Resembles a pyramid; local precinct workers form the base, moving up to ward bosses and culminating with the city boss.
Each level plays a crucial role in securing votes and managing local political activities.

Role of Political Bosses

Controlled access to city jobs, business licenses, and influenced city agencies and courts.
Utilized power to improve infrastructure (parks, sewer systems, waterworks) and funded schools and hospitals.
Aimed to solve urban issues to solidify voter loyalty and expand political influence.

Immigrant Support for Political Machines

Many political leaders were immigrants who spoke the same languages and understood newcomers' challenges.
Political machines assisted immigrants with naturalization, housing, and job placements, securing their votes in return.

Corruption in Political Machines

Engaged in practices like casting votes under fake names and employing graft for personal gain.
Graft often involved inflating job costs and collecting kickbacks from workers who were pressured to share earnings with the machine.

Understanding Graft

Defined as illegal use of political influence for personal profit, often through inflated billing in city contracts.
Kickbacks from these inflated costs contributed significantly to the wealth of political machines and their leaders.

The Tweed Ring Scandal

Led by William M. Tweed (Boss Tweed), who oversaw corrupt practices in city governance, particularly in construction projects.
Tweed Ring’s manipulation of a construction contract inflated costs from $3 million to $13 million, pocketing the excess.
Public outrage, partly incited by political cartoonist Thomas Nast, led to the downfall and imprisonment of Tweed.

Impact of Thomas Nast

His political cartoons played a vital role in exposing the Tweed Ring's corruption and galvanizing public sentiment against it.
Tweed was recognized by Spanish officials from a Nast cartoon after escaping from prison, resulting in his capture.

Description

This quiz focuses on the role of political machines during the Gilded Age, exploring their structure and influence on local governments in major US cities. It delves into the dynamics between precinct workers, ward bosses, and voters, highlighting the exchange of services for support. Test your knowledge of this significant era in American politics.