- As cities grew in the late 1800s due to immigration, there was a greater need for public services like fire stations, police, sanitation, and infrastructure. However, city officials often misused public funds for personal gain through graft and corruption. - Political machines led by bosses dominated cities by creating networks to rig elections and ensure loyalty. While corrupt, bosses provided important social services to immigrants lacking other support. Immigrants strongly supported bosses in exchange for jobs and assistance. - Thomas Nast's political cartoons were influential in exposing corruption, like bringing down the powerful Tweed Ring in New York. His cartoons communicated effectively to immigrant communities with many illiterate residents.

1. Gilded Age and Politics
Lecture Notes:
-As the population grew in the U. S. in the late 1800s, there became an even
greater need for public services. Immigrants were pouring in the cities looking for
both jobs and houses. Businesses were looking for sites to make and sell goods.
Both businesses and residents were calling on the government for expanded
services.
-There was a need for fire stations, police, and sanitation departments (remember
from chapter 6 that raw sewage piled up in the streets in front of the tenement
housing). There was also a need for the construction of bridges, parks, schools,
streets, sewer systems, and utility systems.
-These needs gave city council members and district representatives full reign of
city governments. With this type of full access, they were able to pocket the
money that was meant for public good.
Political Bosses
-Many immigrants received much-needed help from city leaders known as
“bosses”.
-Bosses created political machines to dominate political life in many major
American cities in the late 1800s. They used bribes and favoritism to hold onto
power.
-They found ways to rig elections, often by buying votes. They appointed their
friends to important jobs. This created small machines in the neighborhoods.
This ensured that when election time came around, the bosses’ candidate would
win.
-Even though the bosses were crooked/corrupt, they did perform important
services. There was no unemployment insurance or welfare at this time. The
bosses were the ones who helped the residents cope with their problems.

2. -They formed close relationships with the local voters. They got them jobs, paid
for funerals, and even donated Turkeys at Christmas time. They donated food
during hard times. This made the residents feel cared for. This guaranteed their
loyalty during election time.
Immigrants and Political Machines
-New immigrants were particularly loyal to the machines. They often met
immigrants as soon as they arrived into the U. S. at Ellis Island. Tammany Hall
assisted immigrants by finding them temporary housing and jobs.
-They also helped immigrants become naturalized citizens an eligible to vote for
Tammany Hall candidates. They did not however, offer programs that addressed
poverty and poor housing conditions.
-In some cities, immigrants became active members of political machines. They
served as officeholders, organizers, and representatives. Irish Americans had
slightly easier access to the U. S. political process than many other immigrant
groups because they spoke English. They were often rewarded jobs in fire and
political departments.
*JFK’s grandfather was an Irish American immigrant that rose quickly through the
ranks.
-The immigrants and the political machines was mutually cooperative. The
immigrants needed jobs, the political machines needed votes.
Graft
Once inside the city government, bosses often became even more corrupt. They
looked for ways to increase their own power and personal wealth. One way to
get rich was to take advantage of the massive amounts of public funds involved in
providing city services. Many officials practiced graft—the acquisition of money
or power through illegal or dishonest methods (received bribes, payoffs, or
kickbacks).
Thomas Nast

3. -Thomas Nast is considered to be the father of American political cartooning. His
cartoons helped make political cartoons an important feature in the American
press.
-Many of the common characters used in modern-day cartoons, such as Uncle
Sam, the Republican elephant, and the Democratic donkey were first popularized
by Nast.
-Nast’s cartoons against the Tweed Ring political machine in NYC focused the
public’s attention on political corruption. It was instrumental to the fall of “Boss
Tweed”—officials in Spain used his cartoons to identify Tweed after he escaped
jail and fled the U. S. He was returned to the U. S. where he died in jail.
-Political cartoons were very important, especially in the immigrant communities
where most of the new immigrants were illiterate.