
What is an example of a political machine?
Summarize the example of political machines at work. William Tweed was a machine politician making him run all of New York. Building the County Courthouse was a great example of how political machines work. To build it, it ended up taking 13 million dollars. Tammany Hall got 2 dollars for every 1 dollar the contractor got.
What were political machines?
Definition- Political machines were organizations linked to a political party that often controlled local government. Definition- Acquisition of money or political power through illegal or dishonest methods. Usage- The powerful politicians of Tammany Hall often used graft in their business dealings.
What is a political machine simple definition?
political machine, in U.S. politics, a party organization, headed by a single boss or small autocratic group, that commands enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of a city, county, or state.
What were negative effects of political machines?
Political machines corruptly ran several major cities throughout the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest where millions of immigrants had settled. The machines may have provided essential services for immigrants, but their corruption destroyed good government and civil society by undermining the rule of law.

What is a political machine simple definition?
Function. A political machine is a party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives—money, political jobs—and that is characterized by a high degree of leadership control over member activity.
What is a political machine in history?
political machine, in U.S. politics, a party organization, headed by a single boss or small autocratic group, that commands enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of a city, county, or state.
What is a political machine quizlet?
Political Machine. an organization linked to a political party that often controlled local government.
What is a political machine in the Gilded Age?
Political machines were institutions, especially in urban American cities, during the Gilded Age. They were built around the offering of goods or services for political support.
What were political machines in the late 1800s?
A political machine was an urban organization designed to win elections and reward its followers, both rich and poor. The machine controlled a hierarchy of party loyalists, and it often formed a 'shadow government' seemingly more powerful than the actual elected officials.
How did political machines work quizlet?
How did political machines work? a group that controlled the activities of a party; they offered services to voters and business and wanted in exchange political and financial support.
How did political machines control cities?
At the turn of the 20th century, many U.S. cities were run by collections of self-serving political machines. These organizations controlled access to political power by rigging votes, buying people's loyalty — and their ballots.
How did political machines contribute to corruption in the late 1800s quizlet?
Political machines provided city dwellers with vital services. But as they gained power, many bosses became corrupt. They became rich through THIS, or illegal use of political influence or political gain. THIS illegal practice included illegal payments to politicians.
Why were political machines difficult to break up quizlet?
Why were political machines difficult to break up? They created a cycle of favors for votes. Which reform measure could voters use to approve an amendment to their state constitution?
What was the main goal of political machines during the Gilded Age?
What was the main goal of political machines during the Gilded Age? The main goal of political machines at that time was to control local government.
What was one reason for the expansion of machine politics?
Q. What was one reason for the expansion of machine politics in the late nineteenth century? The rapid influx of immigrants made it difficult for local governments to provide basic services.
Was Boss Tweed a political machine?
William Magear Tweed (April 3, 1823 – April 12, 1878), often erroneously referred to as William "Marcy" Tweed (see below), and widely known as "Boss" Tweed, was an American politician most notable for being the political boss of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party's political machine that played a major role in the ...
What was the main goal of political machines during the Gilded Age?
What was the main goal of political machines during the Gilded Age? The main goal of political machines at that time was to control local government.
How did political machines maintain power?
At the turn of the 20th century, many U.S. cities were run by collections of self-serving political machines. These organizations controlled access to political power by rigging votes, buying people's loyalty — and their ballots.
What was one reason for the expansion of machine politics?
Q. What was one reason for the expansion of machine politics in the late nineteenth century? The rapid influx of immigrants made it difficult for local governments to provide basic services.
What are two ways in which political machines held power?
Some ways political machines held political power was through grafting, deal exchanges, and fraud.
What Were Political Machines?
Image yourself a poor Irish immigrant living in New York City's Lower East Side around the turn of the 20th century. Your husband or wife suddenly falls ill, and his or her health steadily gets worse. You have no money for medical help, but you know who to contact: the 'boss' of the local Democratic political machine. The 'boss' shows up and helps get your husband or wife to the hospital. You say you have no money, and he replies, 'Don't worry about it. Just remember this on election day.' And you do—you vote for whichever Democratic candidate the 'boss' tells you to vote for!
How did political machines help poor people?
On a positive note, political machines also undoubtedly helped poor urban immigrants transition to a new life in America. Low-income city dwellers could count on the local political 'boss' to help them in a crisis or assist them with a neighborhood problem—in exchange, of course, for a vote on election day.
What does it mean to enroll in a course?
Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams.
What cities were associated with the dishonesty of political machines?
As America urbanized and industrialized in the late 19th century, cities such as Chicago, Baltimore, and especially New York became synonymous with the dishonesty of political machines.
What was the political machine in the 20th century?
Lesson Summary. Around the turn of the 20th century, the political machine dominated most every major American city. Headed by a 'boss ,' the political machine supported poor immigrants and made shady deals with the wealthy in exchange for electoral support.
What were the benefits of the political machine?
For the urban poor, the political machine and the 'boss' provided tangible benefits , such as help in emergencies, government jobs, and a variety of social services. The political machine also provided entertainment for the lower classes through rallies, speeches, picnics, parades, and other fanfare. In return, the political machine's 'boss' ...
What is Ch 2.?
Ch 2. The Study of American Government
What was the role of the Tammany Hall?
One of the most infamous of these political machines was Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party machine that played a major role in controlling New York City and New York politics and helping immigrants, most notably the Irish, rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s. From 1872, Tammany had an Irish "boss".
What was the New Deal?
The New Deal allowed machines to recruit for the WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps, making Farley's machine the most powerful. All patronage was screened through Farley, including presidential appointments. The New Deal machine fell apart after he left the administration over the third term in 1940.
How did American politics go insane?
In his mid-2016 article "How American Politics Went Insane" in The Atlantic, Jonathan Rauch argued that the political machines of the past had flaws but provided better governance than the alternatives. He wrote that political machines created positive incentives for politicians to work together and compromise – as opposed to pursuing "naked self-interest" the whole time.
Why is the phrase "machine" considered derogatory?
The phrase is considered derogatory "because it suggests that the interest of the organization are placed before those of the general public", according to Safire. Machines are criticized as undemocratic and inevitably encouraging corruption.
Why did political machines start?
Political machines started as grass roots organizations to gain the patronage needed to win the modern election. Having strong patronage, these "clubs" were the main driving force in gaining and getting out the "straight party vote" in the election districts.
What was the system of political control known as in the Gilded Age?
This system of political control—known as " bossism "—emerged particularly in the Gilded Age. A single powerful figure (the boss) was at the center and was bound together to a complex organization of lesser figures (the political machine) by reciprocity in promoting financial and social self-interest.
What were the cities accused of using political machines?
In the late 19th century, large cities in the United States— Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City, New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Memphis —were accused of using political machines. During this time "cities experienced rapid growth under inefficient government.” Each city's machine lived under a hierarchical system with a "boss" who held the allegiance of local business leaders, elected officials and their appointees, and who knew the proverbial buttons to push to get things done. Benefits and problems both resulted from the rule of political machines.
What is capitalism in politics?
Capitalism. production and distribution are privately or corporately owned; investments determined by private decision; prices, production, and the distribution of goods are determined mainly by competition in a free market; Suffrage: right to vote, struggle for women, 19th Amendment. Trustbusting.
What is the replacement of private property and a profit-based economy?
replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of at least the major means of production (e.g., mines, mills, and factories) and the natural resources of a society
What is manufacturing control?
controlling all aspects of manufacturing (from raw material à finished product)
What is the New Nationalism?
New Nationalism. powerfully engage the federal government in reform; corporate order to stay, big businesses must be regulated in the public interest, welfare of workers, consumers safeguarded, and environment protected. Andrew Carnegie. his life was proof that US is a land of opportunity; "rags to riches"; entrepreneur who had risen ...
What was the NAACP's goal?
Goal was to legislate a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages. § Run by professionals, with protestant ministers staffing a network of state committees. § Encouraged local churches and temperance groups to work for prohibition. NAACP.
Why was the ICC passed?
passed because of rising public concern with the growing power and wealth of corporations, particularly railroads; required railroad rates to be "reasonable and just"; set up Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)- had power to investigate and prosecute pools, rebates, and other discriminatory practices
When did the Party of Roosevelt form?
Party of Roosevelt supporters formed during the election of 1912

Overview
Function
A political machine is a party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives—money, political jobs—and that is characterized by a high degree of leadership control over member activity.
Political machines started as grass roots organizations to gain the patronage needed to win the modern election. Having strong patronage, these "clubs" were the main driving force in gaining a…
Definition
The Encyclopedia Britannica defines "political machine" as, "in U.S. politics, a party organization, headed by a single boss or small autocratic group, that commands enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of a city, county, or state". William Safire, in his Safire's Political Dictionary, defines "machine politics" as "the election of officials and the passage of legislation through the power of an organization created for political action". He notes that the term is gene…
In the history of United States of America
The term "political machine" dates back to the 19th century in the United States, where such organizations have existed in some municipalities and states since the 18th century.
In the late 19th century, large cities in the United States—Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City, New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Memphis—were ac…
Evaluation
The phrase is considered derogatory "because it suggests that the interest of the organization are placed before those of the general public", according to Safire. Machines are criticized as undemocratic and inevitably encouraging corruption.
Since the 1960s, some historians have reevaluated political machines, considering them corrupt but efficient. Machines were undemocratic but responsive. They were also able to contain the s…
See also
• Clientelism
• New Deal coalition, US 1930s-1960s
• Cook County Democratic Party, Chicago
• The Byrd Organization Virginia
Further reading
• Clifford, Thomas P (1975). The Political Machine: An American Institution. Vantage Press. ISBN 0-533-01374-7.
• Gosnell, Harold Foote (1968). Machine Politics: Chicago Model. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-30492-2.
• Gosnell, Harold F; Merriam, Charles E (2007). Boss Platt and His New York Machine: A Study of the Political Leadership of Thomas C. Platt, Theodore Roosevelt and Others. Lightning S…
• Clifford, Thomas P (1975). The Political Machine: An American Institution. Vantage Press. ISBN 0-533-01374-7.
• Gosnell, Harold Foote (1968). Machine Politics: Chicago Model. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-30492-2.
• Gosnell, Harold F; Merriam, Charles E (2007). Boss Platt and His New York Machine: A Study of the Political Leadership of Thomas C. Platt, Theodore Roosevelt and Others. Lightning Source Inc. ISBN 978-1-4325-8850-2.