The Gilded Age Unit 2 4 Corruption in

The Gilded Age Unit 2. 4

Corruption in Politics • During President Grant’s Administration • Whiskey Ring: Internal-Revenue collectors were accepting bribes from whiskey distillers who wanted to avoid paying taxes.

Credit Mobilier Scandal • A Railroad company was given a contract by the government to build its tracks through the West. • They took the money Congress gave them and only used a small portion of it to pay for the operation. The rest, they pocketed. • AND several congressmen held shares in the company.

Political Machine • • • Derived from a climate influenced by Social Darwinism. Controlled the activities of a political party. Offered business in exchange for political or financial support.

Organization • Political Boss: • • • Held the power of mayor of a city, but not office Access to municipal jobs and business licenses Influenced the courts

Immigrants and the Machine • Many immigrants became precinct captains and political bosses • They could speak their language and they understood the challenges newcomers faced. • Offered services like: • naturalization • attaining full citizenship • housing and jobs • All For Votes

Municipal Graft and Scandal • Election Fraud: • • • Using fake names Cast as many votes as necessary Graft: • • Illegal use of political influence for personal gain: “Kick Back” • • • Use of tax payer’s money to sneak into the pockets of politicians. Accepted bribes to allow illegal activities Police did not interfere because political bosses hired them

• Once a president took office, he hired political supporters to federal jobs. • In 1881, President James Garfield promised to stop the patronage system. Patronage

Assassination of President Garfield • Charles Guiteau believed Garfield owed him a job in the diplomatic corps. • Guiteau shot Garfield on July 2, 1881. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=0 t. TQ 0 bguh. Ms&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1& safe=active

Civil Service/Pendleton Act • Government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit. • Selection of gov. employees through exams. • Attempt to stop businesses from funding political campaigns.

William M. Tweed (Boss Tweed) • • Became head of Tammany Hall, New York City’s powerful Democratic political machine Between 1869 and 1871, he led the Tweed Ring: • group of corrupt politicians

• • • Political cartoonist Helped arouse public outrage against Tweed indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion Sentenced to 12 years in jail Reduced to 1 year Got out arrested again, escaped to Spain, arrested again Thomas Nast

In reference to these pictures, Tweed once said, “Stop those danged pictures! I don’t care what the papers say about me; my constituents can’t read. But dang it, they can see pictures”