Objectives for the Day:

- Identify Thomas Nast and his contributions to society- Understand Political Machines and their influence in politics- Identify characteristics of Political Machines- Compare and Contrast the positives/negatives of Political Machines

Political Cartoon Presentation

Gilded Age Quiz

1. What years did the Gilded Age take place?

2. Where does the “Gilded Age” get it’s name from?

3. What is the underlying theme of the “Gilded Age”?

4. Identify one person that prospered during the Gilded Age.

5. Who controlled the government during the Gilded Age?

Political Machines

I. Political MachinesA. ElementsB. ProcessC. Layers

II. News Media A. Thomas NastB. Boss Tweed

What is a Political Machine?

Consisted of three elements:

1. “Bosses” oversee the party machine and controls politicians

2. Mobilize/organize support at the neighborhood level –

“Grassroots Campaign”

3. Party loyalists support the machine with votes and financial support

A. Elements

Political Machines

I. Political MachinesA. ElementsB. ProcessC. Layers

II. News Media A. Thomas NastB. Boss Tweed

How does a Political Machine work?

3-Step Process:

1. Political Machine mobilizes voters

2. Politicians have to create policies to support the goals of the machine

3. Political Machine promised jobs for supporters

B. Process

Political Machines

I. Political MachinesA. ElementsB. ProcessC. Layers

II. News Media A. Thomas NastB. Boss Tweed

Layers of the Political Machine

Bosses dealt with government officials, businessmen, criminal elements  

Precinct captains mobilized voters in the area by forming relationships

with families

C. Layers

1. Help family members get jobs

2. Run a small social service organization - provide food, shelter

3. Provided cheap immigrant labor for businesses that support the Political Machine

What do Precinct Captains do?

C. Layers

Political Machines

I. Political MachinesA. ElementsB. ProcessC. Layers

II. News Media A. Thomas NastB. Boss Tweed

II. News Media

Who are the Muckrakers?

People who wrote to expose the evils in society and businesses

Political Machines

I. Political MachinesA. ElementsB. ProcessC. Layers

II. News Media A. Thomas NastB. Boss Tweed

A. Thomas Nast

Who was Thomas Nast?

Political Cartoonist

Disliked Political Machines

Influenced elections

Created:

Democratic Symbol – Donkey

Republican Symbol – Elephant

Modern-day Santa Claus

Thomas Nast Questions

1. Why would Nast choose a Donkey to represent the Democrats?

2. Why would Nast choose an Elephant to represent the Republicans?

3. How do you think Nast felt about Democrats? Explain.

A. Thomas Nast

Political Machines

I. Political MachinesA. ElementsB. ProcessC. Layers

II. News Media A. Thomas NastB. Boss Tweed

"Stop them damn pictures. I don't care what the papers write about me. My constituents can't read. But, damn it, they can see the pictures."

B. Boss Tweed

Who was Boss Tweed?

Political Machine Questions

Step 11. Why do you think Political Machines were able to come to power?

2. Do you think that everyone saw the political machines as being negative?Why or why not?

Step 2Create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the “Positive” and “Negative”actions of the Political Machines.

Step 3Draw 4 pictures symbolizing something you learned about the Gilded Age andPolitical Machines. You must briefly identify each picture.