Download Political Machines

Political Machines- group of people who
controlled politics in a city (controlled municipal
jobs such as police, fire, sanitation, courts, and
how money was to be spent)
*gained support by offering services to the poor
and favors for the rich!
immigrants- source of machines power because
they voted in large numbers for the candidate the
machine supported
*in return the machine helped find immigrants a
job, place to live, and helped get citizenship
Greed and Corruption- machines used illegal
methods to keep control and make money
Rigged elections- put extra names on voter lists
(dead people, children, dogs) and voted
numerous times
Kickbacks- machines would use city money (from
taxpayers) and hired companies they owned to do
cities work (build schools, parks, trash collection)
and overcharge the taxpayers
*also collected bribes from organized crime to allow
illegal activities (prostitution, gambling) to take place
Tammany Hall- political machine that controlled New
York ran by “Boss” William Tweed (pocketed over
$200 million by ripping off NY taxpayers)
Patronage- practice of giving government jobs to
people who help a candidate get elected
Problem- people in government were awarded
their jobs based on who they knew, not if they
were skilled or qualified
Pendleton Act- 1883- law that required federal
jobs (US gov.) to be based on performance
*today, 90% of government jobs are filled this way