The Urban Political Machine

1
The Urban Political Machine
2
Closely connected with explosive urban growth was
the emergence of the powerful city political
machine.
3
As cities grew, lines of responsibility in city
governments became confused, increasing
opportunity for corruption and greed.
4
The machines traded services for votes. One
boss tied together a network of local
politicians who looked after his constituents.
5
Bosses existed in Chicago, Philadelphia and San
Francisco. In New York, Tammany Hall was the
Democratic party organization that dominated city
politics from the 1850s 1930s.
6
William Boss Tweed was 300 pounds, six feet
tall. Educated and cultured, he moved between the
rough back alleys and the parlors and clubs of
the New York elite.
7
Behind the scenes, he headed the Tweed Ring
which plundered New York for tens of millions of
dollars.