2+Group+3+Political+Machines


 * Political machines** were used by corrupt politicians. Political machines were a behind the scenes way of gaining and holding their power. There would be a group of workers under them who relied on the government for jobs and payment. Ironically, it was most common among Irish Immigrants who contributed to the running and operation of this illegal and corrupt system. The boss would do favors for the workers under them, either paying them excessive amounts of money for a small job (a few million for fixing a pipe). The workers would then promise their votes, along with their families and friend's votes, which in turn proved enough to keep the corrupt official in power. This was primarily done in counties and cities, rarely reaching the national and statewide levels, as it was much more difficult to pay off a sufficient number of people to clinch a victory.

Before the FBI could apprehend him, Tweed escaped to Cuba. When the government had the Cuban government hold him, he payed off one of his guards, and hopped a ship towards Spain. Not willing to accept their loss, the US government had the Spanish national police arrest Tweed, and detain him until the United States could come and extract him. He lived out the rest of his days in jail and died there.
 * William “Boss” Tweed** was and still is the prime example used when describing a political machine. He payed workers inordinate sums of money for work that was never done. Using this draining method, he stole somewhere between 75-200 million dollars from city funds. It was noticed when New York's debt went up 100 million dollars with little to no work done. Instead of just paying those workers under him, he payed himself off and put it into his own personal bank accounts. When he failed to authorize a annual parade, the sheriff exposed him for his crimes.

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