Political Corruption late 1800s

1
Political Corruption late 1800s

• Most infamous political boss of the Gilded Age
  was Boss Tweed in NYC
• Exposed in press by Nast
• Cost NYC over 200 million
• Does go to jail

2
Corruption on National Level

• To the victor goes the spoils of war
• spoils system created by Jackson in 1829
• At times it worked, however it will lead to fraud
  and incompetence

3

• Hayes wins 1876 election
• Tried change to system, met with resistance
• Split Republican Party by 1880 election
• Had a great beard, kind of Brian Wilson-esque

4

• Garfield (Rep.) wins 1880 election
• Assassinated in 1881 by Guiteau over spoils
  system
• Another great beard guy

5

• Arthur becomes President
• Despite early ties to corruption, he does begin
  reform
• 1883 Pendleton Act passed
• 10 of federal jobs were now under control of
  civil service system
• Drawback is politicians now need to find other
  sources of power, so alliance between big
  business and politicians increase
• Not a great beard guy

6

• Reform still issue, however the tariff becomes
  focus
• 1884, Cleveland (Dem) wins, tries to lower
  tariff, he fails
• 1888, Harrison (Rep) wins, raises tariffs
• 1892, Cleveland wins again on low tariff
• 1896, McKinley (Rep) wins he raises tariffs