This document summarizes key political, economic, and social developments in the United States from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. It discusses the rise of political machines like Tammany Hall in response to immigration and industrialization. New inventions like the cotton gin and development of railroads transformed the economy and sparked labor conflicts. Reform movements like Progressivism sought to curb corruption and regulate large businesses in the Gilded Age.

1. POL 375
Spring 2020

5. Power Loom
Cotton Gin
2) Development
of Railroad
Industry
1) New
Inventions
Canning
process
helped goods
to stay fresher
longer.

10. CABLE CAR REFUSE COLLECTIONWAGON

12. Taylor’s principle of
“scientific management”
reorganized factory processes
to improve economic efficiency
and increase productivity rates.

13. Demand for low-skilled
labor attractive to
varying immigrant
populations (German,
Irish)

17.  In-fighting among immigrant groups.
 Conflicts in the workplace between
management and labor.
 Small businesses feared local dominance of
larger trusts.

18.  1) Immigrants became disenchanted with
big business.
 Bosses came from ranks and took power from
business class
 2) Size and complexity of city life made
political responsibilities full-time work.
 Rise of professional politicians at local level

20. JIM PENDERGAST WILLIAM MAGEARTWEED

23. Immigrant groups
would have
representative on
election ballots.
Political machines reached
immigrant voters through ethnically
or religiously-based newspapers.

25.  Democratic political clubs in middle-class
neighborhoods
 Favors for small businessmen
 Restaurants, Saloons, Delis
 Funeral Homes
 Control of city services (transportation,
garbage pick-up)

26. TWEED RING /TAMMANY HALL
 Businesses paid machine
percentage of bill for city
contracts (10-65%)
 Machine paid local
newspaper advertising
costs; papers got friendly
editorial policy from Ring
PENDERGAST MACHINE
 Building construction cease
due to structural issues
 Issue “fixed” by machine
 Building code “updated” for
“modern” times

27.  1)Watched over organized crime and social
vices of cities
 2) “Legalization” of prostitution
 3) Abundance of brothels, night clubs,
gambling houses

30.  Founded in NewYork in late 1780s as a social
organization
 “Tammany” comes from Tamanend, a Native
American leader
 Adopted Native American customs—
meeting hall was a wigwam
Tamanend

31.  Counter to Alexander
Hamilton’s “Society of the
Cincinnati”
 Became center for
Jeffersonian politics in New
York
 Burr usedTammany in 1800
Election; electedVice
President
Aaron Burr

32. Tammany leaders met with
Democratic nominee
Jackson and agreed to
endorse him in exchange for
federal jobs.

34.  Society expanded political control by
earning loyalty of immigrant community

35.  1) Provided means for basic life needs
 Food, coal, rent money, employment
 2) Intermediary between immigrants and State
 Example: Plunkitt’s daily activities
(see Plunkitt ofTammany Hall)
 3) Social integrator by helping familiarize them
with American society; helping with naturalization
process
 Example: “Naturalization Committees”

37. Tweed became foreman of
NewYork’s volunteer fire department.
This job helped elect him Democratic
alderman—beginning his rise to power.

41.  Expanded corruption/kickbacks of Ring into city
and state govt.
 Protégés elected NY Governor and NYC Mayor
 NewYork State Senator
 True power was in appointments

42. NYC expanded
into Upper
East and Upper
West Sides
Land set aside for
Metropolitan Museum of Art
(MOMA)
Brooklyn
Bridge Begun

45. “HONEST JOHN” KELLY RICHARD CROKER

47. 1932: FDR ELECTED
PRESIDENT
1933: LAGUARDIA ELECTED
NYC MAYOR

48. Civilian
Conservation
Corps

49. Carmine De Sapio
Eleanor Roosevelt held De Sapio
personally responsible for FDR Jr’s.
political defeat.
Formed NY Committee for
DemocraticVoters

51.  Lasted from 1890s to 1920s
 Main Goal: Purification of Government
 Tried to eliminate corruption by exposing
political bosses
 Prohibition (18th Amendment; repealed as 21st
Amendment)
 Women’s Suffrage (20th Amendment)

52. “The Man With the
Muck Rake”
In Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress"
you may recall the description of
the Man with the Muck Rake…
…He also typifies the man who in
this life consistently refuses to see
aught that is lofty, and fixes his
eyes with solemn intentness only
on that which is vile and debasing.
Now, it is very necessary that we
should not flinch from seeing what
is vile and debasing. There is filth
on the floor, and it must be
scraped up with the muck rake.
Excerpt fromTheodore Roosevelt’s 1906 speech,
“The Man WithThe Muck Rake”

53.  Involved government
regulation of railroad
industry
 Created the first federal
regulatory agency
 Interstate Commerce
Commission

54.  Limited monopolistic
practices of businesses to
protect consumers
 Rockefeller: Standard Oil
Company

55.  Bans sale of adulterated meat; ensures
processed under sanitary conditions
 Partial response to Sinclair’s Jungle

56. Lincoln
Steffens
Ida
Tarbell
Upton
Sinclair
David
Graham
Phillips