Gilded Age

Introduction

• Focus on the politics of the Gilded Age, a transformative period in American history from the 1870s to about 1900.

• Essential Question: How did the government attempt to deal with the major political issues of this era, characterized by rapid industrialization, economic expansion, and urbanization?

Local Government and Political Machines

• Political Machines: Informal groups of professional politicians who exert control over local governments. Known for mobilizing votes and ensuring political loyalty among constituents, these machines maintained significant influence in major American cities.

• Dominance: Particularly notable in cities like New York City (e.g., Tammany Hall), Chicago, and Philadelphia, and across Midwest counties.

• Progressive Image: Though often corrupt, political machines presented themselves as progressives, addressing the pressing social issues resulting from industrialization, including urban slums, crime, pollution, and widespread unemployment.

• Corruption: Rampant within these organizations, political machines often operated outside the law to maintain their grip on power.

Structure of Political Machines

• These machines functioned as well-organized systems with a hierarchical structure resembling a mafia organization.

• Consisted of elected officials, who were often outperformed by powerful unofficial controllers, all orchestrated by a dominant political boss wielding significant control over party operations.

• Examples:

  • Tammany Hall (Democratic): Dominated by Boss Tweed, notorious for extraordinary corruption and influence.

  • Republican Machine: Represented by influential figures like Roscoe Conkling.

Functions and Methods of Political Machines

• Gaining power through:

  • Voting Manipulation: Common practices included buying votes with public jobs, favors, and other incentives.

  • Targeting New Immigrants: Machines often sought out newly arrived immigrants who required assistance with employment, housing, and citizenship.

• Vote Trading: Machine representatives exploited vulnerabilities of new immigrants, promising employment opportunities and welfare benefits in exchange for votes. This coercion often led to immigrants voting in opposition to their true preferences, as the secret ballot was not yet implemented.

• Severe Consequences: Failing to adhere to the machines' voting directives could result in the loss of jobs and housing, instilling fear of retaliation within these communities.

Corruption and Graft

• Graft: A form of political malpractice where elected officials exploit their position for personal gain through dishonest means.

  • Common Practices: Bribing officials to secure lucrative municipal contracts; skimming profits off the top of contracts became a typical method among machine affiliates.

• Case Study - Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall:

  • Gained infamy through the outrageous corruption surrounding the construction of the Tweed Courthouse, where an initial budget of $250,000 ballooned to an astonishing $13 million due to inflated charges and graft.

  • Specific examples of misuse included charges for materials and labor that vastly exceeded reasonable costs, reflecting a culture of deceit.

Public Reaction and Fall of Tammany Hall

• Public Outcry: As awareness of corruption grew, numerous citizens, particularly reformers, investigated the mismanagement and wastefulness associated with the courthouse project, leading to increased public scrutiny.

• Downfall of Tweed:

  • An insider displeased with the corruption within Tammany Hall divulged information to authorities, triggering investigations.

  • Political cartoonist Thomas Nast became instrumental in depicting Tweed’s misdeeds through impactful illustrations; his art swayed public opinion against Tweed, highlighting the power of media as a tool for reform.

  • Subsequent investigative journalism from reputable outlets, including The New York Times, exacerbated the call for accountability.

Conclusion

• Arrest and Trial: Ultimately, Tweed was sentenced to twelve years, although his sentence was reduced to one year for various legal technicalities.

  • He was re-arrested for owing debts to the state and fled to Europe; however, he became recognizable due to Nast’s caricatures even while abroad.

  • Despite these attempts to evade justice, Tweed was recaptured and died in jail in 1878.

• Lessons Learned: This saga underscores the significant impact of political corruption on the efficacy of local governments during the Gilded Age, as well as the critical role of media and public opinion in facilitating political reforms and instigating change. Political cartoons emerged as powerful instruments for social criticism, influencing the public's perception of political processes and corruption.