11.2.4

Political Machines

1. Political Machines emerged in major cities, such as Baltimore, New York, and San Francisco after the Civil War.

2. Political machines were organizations that controlled all the activities of a political party in a city.

Political Machines

City Bosses (party boss)

1. Political machines were typically a hierarchy with one person at the very top.

2. City bosses were the leaders of political machines.

3. City bosses controlled access to government jobs and business licenses and influenced the courts and other city agencies. 

4. Their actions often led to fraud and political corruption.

Multiple Choice

What organization was in control of the actions of a city's political party?

• Political Machine

• Think Tank

• Interest Group

Multiple Choice

The leaders of Political Machines were known as___.

• City Leaders

• City Bosses

• City executives

1. Immigrants arriving in the United States rarely had support and were willing to follow people or organizations that did provide help. 

2. City bosses offered them jobs, housing, or help with attaining citizenship in exchange for votes. 

3. Many immigrants supported the political machines.

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Immigrants favored Political machines

• To gain power in a city, political machines often used less than legal methods. This normally took the form of various kinds of bribery. 

• The political machines offered citizens services, jobs, or favors in exchange for their votes or financial support.

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Support for Political machines

Multiple Select

How did city bosses bribe immigrants for their votes?

• Jobs

• Housing

• Citizenship

• Clothes

Multiple Choice

What is the main thing political machines wanted from the people?

• Money

• Votes

• Property

Tammany Hall

1. The main political machine of New York was Tamamany Hall. It represented the interests of the Democratic Party.

2. Tammany Hall was led by William Tweed, aka "Boss Tweed."

3. He is known as the most corrupt politician in U.S. history.

4. Supposed to have embezzled 50 to 200 million dollars.

Political Reform

1. Reformers wanted a city government to be more responsive to the citizens and to be more efficient.

2. Distrusted immigrants’ power in politics.

3. The first city to pioneer the use of a commission of experts to run a city was Galveston, Texas.

4. Other cities adopted a council-manager form of government. Citizens elected a city council, which would appoint a manager. The manager has to be trained in administration. 

Multiple Choice

Why was boss Tweed seen as corrupt?

• He was involved in bribery and embezzlement.
• He was a popular political figure.
• He was known for his charitable donations.

Multiple Choice

Who did reformers distrust with political power?

¿De quién desconfiaban los reformadores con el poder político?

• immigrants

  Inmigrantes

• African-Americans

  Afroamericanos

• Criminals

  Criminales

• Politicians

  Políticos