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Urbanization and Machine Politics Urbanization and Machine Politics in the Late 19th Centuryin the Late 19th Century

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Machine PoliticsMachine Politics Machine politics Machine politics

surreptitiously surreptitiously controlled every urban controlled every urban center of the late 19th center of the late 19th century. century.

Based on the traditional Based on the traditional system of patronage system of patronage and usually controlled and usually controlled by a boss, the driving by a boss, the driving force behind a political force behind a political machine is the ability of machine is the ability of elected public officials elected public officials to do favors for to do favors for constituents typically in constituents typically in the form of employment the form of employment and contracts in and contracts in exchange for votes.exchange for votes.

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Election fraud was Election fraud was rampant and usually rampant and usually ordained by the bosses ordained by the bosses themselves. themselves.

In fact, "Big Tim" Sullivan, In fact, "Big Tim" Sullivan, a New York City ward boss a New York City ward boss who reportedly rewarded who reportedly rewarded "repeat voters" by giving "repeat voters" by giving them a new pair of shoes them a new pair of shoes was quoted as saying...was quoted as saying...

""When you’ve voted ‘em with their whiskers When you’ve voted ‘em with their whiskers on, you take ‘em to a barber and scrape off on, you take ‘em to a barber and scrape off the chin fringe. Then you vote ‘em again… the chin fringe. Then you vote ‘em again… Then to a barber again, off comes the sides Then to a barber again, off comes the sides and you vote ‘em a third time with the and you vote ‘em a third time with the mustache… [Then] clean off the mustache mustache… [Then] clean off the mustache and vote ‘em plain face. That makes every and vote ‘em plain face. That makes every one of ‘em for four votes.”one of ‘em for four votes.”

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By far, Boss Tweed By far, Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall of Tammany Hall was the most was the most notorious city boss notorious city boss of the era and of all of the era and of all American history for American history for that matter. that matter.

He is depicted in, He is depicted in, literally, thousands literally, thousands of cartoons; most of of cartoons; most of which are concerned which are concerned with his corruption with his corruption and indulgence and indulgence

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The Haymarket AffaireThe Haymarket Affaire The Haymarket Affair occurred The Haymarket Affair occurred

on May 4, 1886 in Chicago on May 4, 1886 in Chicago Illinois, following days of labor Illinois, following days of labor mobilization and strikes. mobilization and strikes.

On May 1, an organized strike On May 1, an organized strike and march in support of an and march in support of an eight-hour workday took place, eight-hour workday took place, over the next 2 days the strike over the next 2 days the strike spread nationwide. spread nationwide.

On May 3, a fight broke out On May 3, a fight broke out among some strikers and the among some strikers and the Chicago police interceded Chicago police interceded killing two laborers and inciting killing two laborers and inciting fury. fury.

Local anarchists issued Local anarchists issued posters calling for a rally at the posters calling for a rally at the Haymarket to take action Haymarket to take action against the injustice. against the injustice.

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Mass Transportation Mass Transportation The rise of mass The rise of mass

transportation in the cities transportation in the cities allowed people to have allowed people to have greater control over where greater control over where they lived, within the city they lived, within the city and in the growing and in the growing suburbs. suburbs.

Cities began to grow out Cities began to grow out along transit lines causing along transit lines causing a greater rift between a greater rift between where the rich and poor where the rich and poor lived. lived.

Also, ethnic groups, Also, ethnic groups, despite profession, could despite profession, could now live in closer proximity now live in closer proximity to those more like to those more like themselves giving rise to themselves giving rise to the ethnic communities so the ethnic communities so often associated with big often associated with big city living. city living.

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The excerpt from Scientific The excerpt from Scientific American explains how the American explains how the new subway systems actually new subway systems actually work and provides a detailed work and provides a detailed description of their description of their appearance.appearance.

““One of the most powerful One of the most powerful factors in the evolution of factors in the evolution of cities, and one of the most cities, and one of the most interesting topics of the day, interesting topics of the day, is rapid transit. It affects not is rapid transit. It affects not only the health and comfort of only the health and comfort of all citizens, but the very all citizens, but the very existence and prosperity of existence and prosperity of cities themselves. Although cities themselves. Although much has been written about much has been written about it, the last word has not been it, the last word has not been said. Modern inventions do said. Modern inventions do not change human nature, not change human nature, but they do change human but they do change human affairs” affairs”

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The Great Chicago FireThe Great Chicago Fire The city of Chicago caught The city of Chicago caught

fire on October 8, 1871 and fire on October 8, 1871 and burned for nearly three days burned for nearly three days before it was contained and before it was contained and extinguished. extinguished.

Fire was a common threat to Fire was a common threat to nineteenth century cities that nineteenth century cities that had little means to combat had little means to combat them. them.

The fire nearly destroyed the The fire nearly destroyed the city, but brought the people of city, but brought the people of Chicago to each other’s aide Chicago to each other’s aide at a previously at a previously unprecedented rate and the unprecedented rate and the recovery of the city played a recovery of the city played a considerable role in considerable role in catapulting Chicago to the catapulting Chicago to the forefront as an industrial city.forefront as an industrial city.

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Statistics on the PopulationStatistics on the Population The late 19th century saw an influx of immigrants and a The late 19th century saw an influx of immigrants and a

move to the cities, both because of perceived opportunity move to the cities, both because of perceived opportunity and the growing industrial sector. and the growing industrial sector.

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Immigrant Experience: Immigrant Experience: Ethnic Communities Ethnic Communities

The United States was The United States was essentially flooded with essentially flooded with immigrants at the end of immigrants at the end of the 19th century. the 19th century.

Many of these men, Many of these men, women, and children had women, and children had never been to America never been to America before, were before, were unaccustomed to the unaccustomed to the traditions, and new traditions, and new relatively no one in their relatively no one in their mythical adopted home. mythical adopted home.

For this reason, they For this reason, they tended to gravitate towards tended to gravitate towards others from the same others from the same country or region.country or region.

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OrphansOrphans As the rural poor and immigrants As the rural poor and immigrants

flooded cities in search of flooded cities in search of employment, many children were employment, many children were orphaned when their parents died orphaned when their parents died due to the horrible living due to the horrible living conditions or abondoned when conditions or abondoned when they simply could not support they simply could not support them any longer. them any longer.

The Children’s Aid Society was The Children’s Aid Society was established in 1853 in New York established in 1853 in New York City to care for the indigent youth City to care for the indigent youth and many cities followed suit with and many cities followed suit with similar institutions. similar institutions.

The same year saw the The same year saw the beginnings of the Orphan Train beginnings of the Orphan Train Movement that moved children, Movement that moved children, whose parents had died, from whose parents had died, from East Coast cities westward where East Coast cities westward where they found families and often they found families and often times work.times work.

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"An Act to Provide for the "An Act to Provide for the Adoption of Children" gives Adoption of Children" gives an example of the legislation an example of the legislation adopted around the country adopted around the country concerned with the care of concerned with the care of indigent children.indigent children.

““Sect. 2Sect. 2. if neither parent be . if neither parent be living, such consent may be living, such consent may be given by the legal guardian of given by the legal guardian of such child; if there be no such child; if there be no legal guardian, no father nor legal guardian, no father nor mother, the next of kin of mother, the next of kin of such child within the State such child within the State may give such consent; and if may give such consent; and if there be no such next of kin, there be no such next of kin, the judge of probate may the judge of probate may appoint some discreet and appoint some discreet and suitable person to act in the suitable person to act in the proceedings as the next proceedings as the next friend of such child, and give friend of such child, and give or withhold such consent.”or withhold such consent.”