Political Machines

HOT ROC: Gangs of New York
The Politics of Fraud and
Bribery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qCBTZA wwso&feature=related
– Start at 6:20 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qCBTZA wwso&feature=related
– End at 2:16
What opinion does this film express about late
19 th century politics?

Political Machines
Background:
– Needs of immigrants: jobs, $, housing, protection, etc.
Political Machines & Political Bosses:
– Needs: votes on election day, power, & influence
Relationship:
– Machines and Bosses would provide money, protection, food, housing, entertainment (legal and illegal), to city dwellers in return for votes
– Control access to jobs

16.5 Activity Description
You will be shown several images, for each image, read the corresponding section of the book and write down the following:
– 2-3 details about the specific problem
– 1 “ Muckraker-esque ” headline to draw attention to the problem

Political Machines and Bosses
Write down the following:
2-3 details about the specific problem
1 “ Muckraker-esque ” headline to draw attention to the problem

Corruption in Local & State Politics
Write down the following:
2-3 details about the specific problem
1 “ Muckraker-esque ” headline to draw attention to the problem

Corruption on the National Level
Write down the following:
2-3 details about the specific problem
1 “ Muckraker-esque ” headline to draw attention to the problem

Social Tensions
Read over section 16.6 and respond to the following questions:
1. What happened to the social classes at the turn of the century?
2. How has the change in social classes impacted
Americans today?
3. Why did many immigrants remain in ethnic neighborhoods?
4. What were three challenges that African Americans faced at the turn of the century?
5. What were three changes that women went through at the turn of the century? Were these changes positive, negative, or both?
6. What was the temperance movement? Why did it begin?

Welcome to the Jungle
How is this addressed in The Jungle?
Problem Area
Meat-Packing
Industry
Political
Machines
Child Labor
Plight of the
Poor
Working
Conditions
Unemployment