Politics in the Gilded Age
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Politics in the Gilded Age. Focus Question. Explain what services a local government should provide for its residents . Urban Growth. Tremendous growth of cities in the Gilded Age What problems might arise due to this growth?. Population Boom Strained System. Issues over Housing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Politics in the Gilded Age
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Politics in the Gilded AgeFocus QuestionExplain what services a local government should provide for its residents.Urban GrowthTremendous growth of cities in the Gilded Age
What problems might arise due to this growth?
New YorkChicagoPhiladelphiaSt. LouisBoston1860813,669112,172565,529160,773177,6401870942,292298,977674,022310,864250,52618801,206,299503,185847,170350,518362,83918901,515,3011,099,8501,046,964451,770448,47719003,437,2021,698,5751,293,697575,238560,89219104,766,8832,185,2831,549,008687,029670,585Population Boom Strained SystemIssues over HousingIssues over ServicesIssues over Public HealthIssues over TransportationIssues over SanitationIssues over Poverty
Jacob Riis Street Arabs How the Other Half Lives. 1890.5Political MachinesCities and some states dominated by Political machinesOrganized groups which controlled local partiesControlled all aspects oflocal government.Built upon layers ofcorruption
Built on a Strict HierarchyBossControlled patronageControlled fundsDetermined candidatesUnderbossControlled local wardsAssisted and advised the BossPrecinct CaptainsDoled out patronageIdentified up and coming party membersParty loyalistsGot out the votePrevented the other party from getting out the vote
Central Role of the VoteThe Vote was the currency of the machineIf you controlled the vote, you controlled:JobsMoneyContractsPower
Inherently CorruptRan up government expensesPromoted inefficiencyProvided forshoddy work
Why Did They Last?Political Machines remarkably popularActively courted immigrant voteProvided services for constituentsProvided the vote in national elections
