Political machines like Tammany Hall offered rewards like jobs and benefits to entice people to vote for them, often using bribery and illegal activities. Tammany Hall helped immigrants in exchange for votes, giving jobs or improving living conditions. This system of political patronage spread to the federal level, putting unqualified people in government jobs. The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 helped address this by creating a commission to give civil service jobs based on merit rather than politics.

1. Urbanization

2. The Political Machine
 also known as a party machine, this
organization enticed people to vote for
them by offering certain rewards
 Most famous organization to use this is
Tammany Hall in New York City
 Most of the time the political machine
would bribe cops, elected officials, and
anyone who would take money (graft)
 In regards to Tammany Hall, most
immigrants benefited from Tammany’s
illegal activities because in exchanged
for their vote, Tammany Hall would help
them. (i.e. Job or better living conditions)

3.  These type of politics also made it’s
way to the Federal level as well.
 Patronage became a problem, which
means that there were unqualified
people in civil service government
jobs.
 Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883
which created a civil service
commission to give government jobs
based on merit and not politics.