Describe the changing role
of government in economic
and political affairs.
NCSCOS 5.04
Macro Concepts
Micro Concepts
 Power-authority of a
 Laissez-faire-concept that
government to carry out the
law.
 Change-transformation of a
person, place or thing.
 Conflict-problem or issue
that is controversial and can
cause problems without
compromise.
 Reform-method of fixing,
improving and correcting
[change for the better].
 Corruption-act of
government officials
misusing power for their
benefit.
business should NOT have
strict regulations and control
over them.
 Industrialization-process of
people producing things
using mass production and
machinery.
 Immigration-process of mass
entrance into a new country
to live permanently.
 Urbanization-process of
living in high population, high
density cities.
Machine Politics
 Political machines-strong political parties that control who
comes to power by using bribery and tight political organization.
 Tammany Hall-The name of the New York City Democratic party
headquarters. Was well known for corruption led by party
leader William Boss Tweed.
 Boss Tweed-Leader of Tammany Hall who used bribery and
extortion to rule New York City politics.
 Graft-a technique of using bribery or stealing money by an
elected official.
 Civil Service System-a system of using tests to decide who gets
government jobs.
 Pendleton Act-a federal law created to prevent corruption by
using merit instead of patronage and graft.
Thomas Nast’s cartoons
 A New York City cartoonist named Thomas Nast criticized the
corruption and illegal activities of Tweed and other government
officials.
 His cartoons were so effective because readers did not have to
know how to read to understand what Nast was describing.
 Eventually the pressure applied by Nast led to Tweed’s arrest,
prosecution and imprisonment.
Scandals, Corruption and ways to stop it
 Crédit Mobilier scandal-An example of government officials taking
bribes from railroad companies,
 Whiskey Ring scandal-Terrible example of corruption by U.S.
Government officials who stole Whiskey taxes.
 Secret ballot (Australian)-Type of voting system that protected
privacy of voters [ex. Voters did not reveal who they voted for].
 Initiative-A type of vote started by the citizens [usually to get
something changed] such as raising the drinking age.
 Referendum-A type of law passed by the citizens of a country
instead of a legislature.
 Recall-A vote to fire an elected official before his term is over
because the voters do not like his performance.
Mugwumps
 Group of people who rebelled
and left the Republican party
because they were tired of
corruption.
 James Blaine ran for president in
1884 but lost the elections
because he was considered too
corrupt.
 A criticism of the Mugwumps was
that they had a holier than thou
toward morality as if they were
above criticism themselves.
Republican Presidential
candidate James A. Blaine
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
 Federal law passed by
Congress to break up Trusts.
 The trusts formed monopolies
that controlled prices of goods
such as oil and steel.
 This legislation broke up the
Standard Oil company.
 The law gave the U.S.
Government more power to
regulate businesses and
protect consumers.
U.S. v. E.C. Knight, Co. (1895)
 This U.S. Supreme Court case was important because it ruled
against the federal government on the key issue of Big Business.
 The U.S. government wanted to break up sugar trusts.
 The Court ruled that Big Sugar did not pose a significant enough
threat to the United States because sugar was not essential.
Cartoon Strip like Thomas Nast
 Create one page political cartoon that mocks or
parodies one of the historical events described in this
slide show.
 You may use dialogue if you wish. Anyone who
reads or sees your cartoon must be able to readily
understand what you are trying to “say.”
 Be as descriptive and sarcastic as possible.
 Please ask me if you have any questions.
Image sources
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http://www2.truman.edu/parker/research/tweed.jpg
http://mrjohnsonssclasses.wikispaces.com/file/view/thomas_nast_cartoon1.jpg/167777619/t
homas_nast_cartoon1.jpg
http://www2.truman.edu/parker/research/tammany.jpg
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/capitalism/images/knight.jpg
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/childs1/387Week6outline_files/image003.jpg