The Chicago Political Machine Chicago History Bell Ringer
The Chicago Political Machine Chicago History
Bell Ringer • What type of shape is the figure on the right? • What are the men carrying up the structure? • What are the men carrying down after? • How would you describe this exchange or “business”? • Does this remind you of anything today?
The Political Machine • A political organization that has ▫ One boss or a dominant group at the top ▫ A core of political supporters ▫ The exchange of favors and payments between these two groups. • Politics can be structured as a business selling its products. ▫ The products: political favors and jobs. ▫ The payment: votes and $.
Political Machine Power Structure • City Boss ▫ Like a CEO of the business ▫ Head of the Machine • Ward Captains/Aldermen ▫ In charge of running the Machine ▫ Distribute funds and jobs to voters ▫ City boss gives this group political power and benefits. • Voters ▫ Receive the jobs and other benefits from ward captains and aldermen. ▫ Repay by voting for the city boss in elections. The Boss Ward Captains and Aldermen Voters
The Machine in Action • Mechanical Efficiency ▫ You must follow the rules to do business with the machine, or you won’t get the “products”. ▫ The New Deal money and jobs went straight to the Chicago Machine. • Private Businesses ▫ Can make campaign contributions ($) ▫ Politicians do not have to steal from the city or taxpayers. • Power Base ▫ In the immigrant population ▫ By the 1930 s, the African Americans began to vote for them.
Anton Cermak Creates the Machine • An immigrant himself, he knew the power the growing immigrant population’s lack of power in politics. • With the support of Chicago’s immigrant population, he turns the Cook County Democratic Party (CCDP) into his “machine”. • Unfortunately, he was assassinated in Miami with a bullet meant for President Roosevelt in 1933. • Cermak was replaced by Edward Kelly as a mayor. • Kelly continues the work of the machine and politics in Chicago is still run the same way today.
The Other Side of the Machine • Corruption ▫ Jobs were given to only the people that supported the machine. ▫ The New Deal gave the city boss almost unlimited resources. • Undemocratic ▫ Only one dominant political party in the city. ▫ Voting becomes too onesided. • Resistance to Change ▫ Their power becomes permanent after some time. ▫ The machine’s interests are the only things that matter.
RAFT Activity: A Good Leader? • Role ▫ A working class person in 1930 s Chicago • Audience ▫ To a friend or co-worker (your partner) • Format ▫ A persuasive letter (two paragraphs) • Topic ▫ Why or why not to support the CCDP in the next election? ▫ Why or why not the city boss is good for Chicago? Directions: 1. Write your persuasive letter to your partner. 2. Exchange letters with your partner and read what they have to say. 3. Write back to your partner (on their paper) and share your thoughts about their perspective on Chicago Machine politics. Explain why you agree or disagree with them.
Current Events Blog • Due every Monday night, 11: 59 PM. • Follow directions on the blog. • The link is ▫ http: //mrverdaguer. wordpress. com • Please include your name in the blog post to receive credit. • No late work accepted. • Assignment is worth 15 points every week.
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