Chapter 8 Section 1:

Political Machines

The Rise of the Political Machine

• With the population rapidly growing, cities needed people to oversee new public services

• Political parties backed their candidates for the jobs

• {Due to the success in getting their candidates elected to local political offices these well organized political parties were called Political Machines.}

Continued….• {Political Bosses managed these Political

Machines and exercised great control over the local parties}

• District leaders called {Precinct Captains and Political Bosses often formed personal relationships with constituents} in order to influence their vote at election time

• {The main strength of political machines resided with the Precinct Captains} because they won support for the political machines

Immigrants and Political Machines• Machine politicians often met immigrants as

soon as they arrived. They assisted them with temporary housing and jobs.

• They also set the immigrants up as citizens, giving them the right to vote (for their candidates of course)

• Tammany Hall was one of these political clubs who “aided” immigrants, although the officials failed to address the issues of poverty and poor housing conditions

• In some cities, immigrants became active members of political machines because their numbers became so great it could sway the vote

Graft and Corruption

• Political machines often resorted to corruption, Graft (taking money or political power through illegal or dishonest methods) and Kickbacks (payments of part of the earnings from a job or contract) to take control of cities governments.

• {The corruption that enabled political machines to gain power often interfered with the ability to run the city efficiently}

• {Some political bosses believed that making a profit through their political position was justifiable}

Thomas Nast’s Cartoons• One of the most influential political

cartoonists of the late 1800’s• {Thomas Nast first popularized the

Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey}

• His cartoons helped make political cartoons an important part in the American Press

• He also aided in exposing the corruption of Tammany Hall and its ring leader William Marcy Tweed, through his cartoons

Review• Due to success in getting candidates elected to

local political offices, well organized political parties were called what?

• Who would often formed personal relationships with constituents?

• What was it that enabled political machines to gain power and often interfered with the ability to run the city efficiently?

• Some _________ ______ believed that making a profit through their political position was justifiable.

• Who first popularized the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey?

The End?