POLITICAL MACHINES AND THE PROGRESSIVES

APUSH - Spiconardi

Tammany Hall

Tammany Hall a Democratic Party political machine that controlled New York City politics Often exchange patronage for

political support Graft dubious use of a

politician's authority for personal gain

Tammany Hall and Immigrants Immigrants usually made up the

base of political machines constituents. Irish were Tammany Hall’s base

What is Thomas Nast’s criticism of Tammany Hall?

Steffens vs. Urban Machines

New York reporter who exposed the corruption of Tammany Hall. His pieces on Tammany

Hall ran in McClure’s magazine and were published together in a book (The Shame of the Cities).

What is Steffens criticism of urban politics?

Tammany Hall ward boss

How does Plunkitt justify his actions?

Lincoln Steffens George Plunkitt

A Day in the Life of Plunkitt

Assisted the victims of a house fire; secured the release of six "drunks" by speaking on their behalf to a judge; paid the rent of a poor family to prevent their eviction and gave them money for food; secured employment for four individuals; attended the funerals of two constituents (one Italian, the other Jewish); attended a Bar Mitzvah; and attended the wedding of a Jewish couple from the Fifteenth District.

Does Graft Work?

Chicago waterworks pumped 500 million gallons of water a day (139 gallons per resident)

60% of Chicagoans had flushable toilets

Chicago had streets lit with electricity

Chicago had twice as many parks The Chicago River’s course was

reversed to ensure sewage would be carried into Lake Michigan, away from city residents

Berlin residents only had 18 gallons of water available to them.

Flushable toilets were a rarity in Berlin

Berlin still relied on gaslight

Chicago (1900) Berlin (1900)

Jane Addams on Political Machines

Many a man at such a time has formulated a lenient judgment of political corruption and has heard kindly speeches which he has remembered on election day. "Ah, well, he has a big Irish heart. He is good to the widow and the fatherless." "He knows the poor better than the big guns who are always about talking civil service and reform."

Why does Addams believe citizens support political

machines over reformers, such as herself?