Political+Machines+(1-3)

a. In the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century, it was mainly the larger cities that had machines — Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, Philadelphia, Kansas City, etc. — and each city's machine was run by a "boss," which was a man who had the allegiance of local business leaders, elected officials and their appointees, and who knew the proverbial buttons to push to get things done.

b. Many machines formed in cities to serve immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th century. Many immigrants viewed machines as a vehicle for political enfranchisement. Additionally, many immigrants were unfamiliar or unknown with the sense of civic duty that was part of American republicanism. They traded votes for power. The main role of the machine staffers was to win elections—usually by turning out large numbers of voters on election day. Occasionally illegal tactics were used in local elections (but rarely in state or presidential elections). In recent years, some critics have stated that the presidency of George W. Bush and the presidential candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton show evidence of dynastic political machines at the national level. This influenced the Second Industrial Revolution because it built the government up and it made many people aware of problems and secrecy.

Group 3