UNIT 1 NOTES
Chapter 13 – Expansion of American Industry
Chapter 15 – Politics, Immigration, & Urban Life
America: Pathways to the Present
Chapter 15
Politics, Immigration, and Urban Life
(1870–1915)
 CORE OBJECTIVE: Explain the changes in late 1800’s urban life
relating to Immigration, Industrialization, and Politics in the
Gilded Age.
 Objective 1.4: In what ways did government reform the spoils system
and regulate railroads?
 Objective: 1.5: Analyze the challenges immigrants and cities faced late
1800s urban cities.
American Industry will grow with positive and negative
consequences
America: Pathways to the Present
Chapter 15: Politics, Immigration, and Urban Life (1870–1915)
Section 1: Politics in the Gilded Age
Section 2: People on the Move
Section 3: The Challenge of the Cities
Section 4: Ideas for Reform
Presidents of the United
States
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George Washington; Federalist (1788)
John Adams; Federalist (1796)
Thomas Jefferson (1800)
James Madison (1808)
James Monroe (1816)
John Quincy Adams (1824)
Andrew Jackson; Democrat (1828)
Martin Van Buren; Democrat (1836)
William Henry Harrison; Whig (1840)
John Tyler; Whig (1841)
#11 - 20
James K. Polk; Democrat (1844)
Zachary Taylor; Whig (1848)
Millard Fillmore; Whig (1850)
Franklin Pierce; Democrat (1852)
James Buchanan; Democrat (1856)
Abraham Lincoln; Republican (1860)
Andrew Johnson; Democrat (1865)
Ulysses S. Grant; Republican (1868)
Rutherford B. Hayes; Republican (1876)
James Garfield; Republican (1880)
#21 - …
Chester A. Arthur; Republican (1881)
Grover Cleveland; Democrat (1884)
Benjamin Harrison; Republican (1888)
Grover Cleveland; Democrat (1892)
William McKinley; Republican (1896)
Theodore Roosevelt; Republican (1901)
How was politics
affected by
business in the
late 1800s?
 The Gilded Age: small layer of prosperity covered poverty &
corruption of the late 1800s.
 This term was coined by Mark Twain.
 Businesses operated without government regulation. This is
known as laissez-faire economics.
 Laissez-faire means ‘allow to be’ in French.
 Corporations supported government involvement when it
benefited them.
 For example, American businesses accepted land grants and subsidies.
 A subsidy is a payment made by the government to encourage the
development of certain key industries, such as railroads.
 During Gilded Age, Republicans
and Democrats had roughly same
numbers
 To keep party members loyal,
candidates rewarded supporters and
tried to avoid controversial issues.
 Under the Spoils System,
candidates for political office would
offer jobs in exchange for votes.
 The spoils system also gave
supporters access to money and
political favors.
 Before the 1880 presidential election the Republican party was
split into factions.
 The Stalwarts defended the spoils system.
 The Half-Breeds hoped to reform the system.
 The Independents opposed the spoils system.
 On July 2, 1881 President Garfield
was assassinated over the spoils
system
 Garfield wanted to reform the system.
 His running-mate was Chester Arthur, a
Stalwart.
 Charles Guiteau did not get a job he was
promised
 He now wanted Arthur as president.
 Pendleton Civil Service Act
 Created a merit system
where employees must be fit
for govt. work
 Established the Merit System in
which applicants compete for jobs
based on their experience and
qualifications
 It limited the number of family
members that could apply for civil
service jobs
After the assassination,
President Chester Arthur was
able to get congressional support
for the civil service act
— Assessment
 On July 2, 1881 President Garfield was assassinated by a Stalwart,
which is a Republican who
a. Opposed the spoils system
b. Wanted to use government funds to complete the Transcontinental
Railroad
c. Defended and supported the spoils system
d. Supported any government that gave greater rights to workers
 The Pendleton Civil Service Act was passed to
a.
b.
c.
d.
Cancel laws that required government workers to be paid by tariffs
End the high tariffs created during the Gilded Age
End the spoils system and ensure government employees are qualified
Print money backed by silver rather than gold.
— Assessment
 On July 2, 1881 President Garfield was assassinated by a Stalwart,
which is a Republican who
a. Opposed the spoils system
b. Wanted to use government funds to complete the Transcontinental
Railroad
c. Defended and supported the spoils system
d. Supported any government that gave greater rights to workers
 The Pendleton Civil Service Act was passed to
a.
b.
c.
d.
Cancel laws that required government workers to be paid by tariffs
End the high tariffs created during the Gilded Age
End the spoils system and ensure government employees are qualified
Print money backed by silver rather than gold.
THE MACHINE
 Rapidly growing cities were difficult to
govern.
 Increased revenue and responsibilities gave
city governments more power and
competition for control grew more intense.
 Different groups represented the interests of
different classes.
 The political machine: unofficial city
organization designed to keep a group
in power.
 Political machines worked through the
exchange of favors.
WHAT DOES THIS
MEAN?
CORRUPTION
 Machines won the loyalty of immigrants by providing them
with apartments, jobs
 Provided paved streets and sewer systems
 They protected criminals through bribery
Popular bosses:
 Tom Pendergast in KC
- Helped Harry Truman
 William Marcy Tweed
-
Ran NY Machine
 Political machines worked through the exchange of favors.
 Many people who wanted favors would pay money,
machine.
to the
 Graft was a major source of income for the machines.
 Many immigrants accepted help from those who promised financial assistance


Business gained an edge over unions through government corruption
A contractor who was eager to win a city contract for a construction project would pay
government officials who could throw the contract their way
THE FLOW OF POLITICAL
MACHINES
Political
Machines
Businesses
pay large
amounts of
money for
permits and
contracts
Bribes are
given to city
leaders and
political
machines
Local
Business
Graft
Machines are
headed by a
boss and keep
one political
party in power
Immigrant
Votes
City
Leaders
City leaders are
controlled through
immigrant votes
 Why did many immigrants support political machines?
a. Political machines provided them with jobs.
b. Political machines were free of corruption.
c. Political machines put powerful ‘bosses’ out of business.
d. Political machines fought against crime in the slums.
 Many people who wanted favors would pay money, or
______________, to the political machines.
a. Settlements
b. Graft
c. Temperance
d. Capital payments
 Why did many immigrants support political machines?
a. Political machines provided them with jobs.
b. Political machines were free of corruption.
c. Political machines put powerful ‘bosses’ out of business.
d. Political machines fought against crime in the slums.
 Many people who wanted favors would pay money, or
______________, to the political machines.
a. Settlements
b. Graft
c. Temperance
d. Capital payments