Politics in the Gilded Age Goal 5 Part 4

What is the Gilded Age?CORRUPTION Coined by Mark Twain

Timeframe: 1870s-1890s that mocks the “greed” and “self-indulgence” of American people.

PROBLEM: Rapid urbanization under inefficient government

The Political Machine

Political machine: an organized group that controlled the activities of a political party in a city

• Offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for political and financial support

(MAJOR CORRUPTION!!!!)• Leader: Political Boss

Reasons for success:Controlled business licenses & jobs*Fixed urban problems (examples?)Made people happy!

Immigrants and the Political Machine Why would immigrants SUPPORT Political

Machines? Political machines and bosses provide

“ANSWERS” to immigrants questions and concerns!

A. Helped with the “naturalization” process (attaining full citizenship)

B. Helps with finding JOBSIn return for this help…immigrants would support the

political machine with votes…or general support!

Graft/Corruption

Graft: illegal use of political influence for personal gain (political machines) Most Famous:

TWEED RING SCANDAL corrupted Democratic political machine Boss Tweed, became head / boss of Tammany Hall, New York’s political Machine Story: Overcharge the construction of aNew York Courthouse ($13 million) when it officially cost only ($3 million) - $10 million goesto the machine and workers

“The way to have power is to take it.” - Boss Tweed

http://www.sodahead.com/entertainment/whos-the-worst-celebrity-breaker-upper/question-1282679/

“Tammany Tiger Loose”- Thomas Nast

Patronage is “REPLACED” by Civil Service (REFORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Patronage: giving of government jobs to people who

helped a candidate get elected (COPRRUPTION) Example: Andrew Jackson’s Spoils System Solution: move into a “merit” system of hiring Remember: Patronage / Spoils System / Graft = all the same!

Civil Service: (government administration) giving government jobs based on being the most qualified, merit system Civil Service = good / based on merit

Patronage = bad / based on corruption

**Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)**(1) Replaced patronage with civil service(2) Destroyed the Spoils System!(3) Federal jobs are given through a merit system, and

performance based testing!(*) STRONGEST legislation that attempted to fix the Gilded

Age (corruption)

Reforming ElectionsGetting average citizens more “directly” involved in politics4 actions to get the average citizen more involved in politics(1) Initiative – a bill generated by the “people”(2) Referendum – a “vote” on the bill, or initiative(3) Recall – people had the right to “remove” a

government official out of office to face another election

(4) 17th Amendment – Direct election of SenatorsOVERALL PURPOSE: Progressive reform / fixing

corruption / Reforming elections got the “average citizen” more involved in politics

REMEMBER: Populism and Progressivism are very similar

What is considered the STRONGEST attempt by the federal government to clean up the state government in the late 1800s?a. By outlawing political bosses and political

machinesb. By eliminating campaign contributions and

graftc. By passing the Sherman Anti-Trust Actd. By passing the Pendleton Civil Service Act