Corruption & Reform in AmericaUnit Writing Activity(Chp. 5-6)

Name ______Due Date ______

William “Boss” Tweed--1823–1878

WHY HE MADE HISTORY William Marcy “Boss” Tweed led a ring of corruption in New York City politics. His activities eventually resulted in political reforms. As you read the biography below, think about how Tweed’s corruption affected New York City. Did his actions have a long-term effect on politics?

In the nineteenth century, much of big city governmentin America was corrupt. Many politicians took bribes and became rich. Inreturn, they gave political favors and jobs. One of the most famouspolitical scandals of the era involved a New York City politician knownaround town as “Boss” Tweed.

William Marcy “Boss” Tweed was born in 1823 in New York City. Tweed began his political career in 1851 when, on his second try, he waselected to a local political seat. He was elected as a representative toCongress the following year. However, Tweed preferred local politics tohis role in Congress.

In 1856 Tweed was elected to the board of city supervisors in New YorkCity. He gave city jobs to many people he knew. This group becameknown as the Tweed Ring. Then Tweed focused his attention on TammanyHall, the organization that controlled Democratic nominations in NewYork City. In 1860 Tweed became the head of the Tammany Hall generalcommittee and gained control of Democratic Party nominations to all citypositions.

Voter fraud was widespread, and Tweed openly paid for votes.Tweed used his position in Tammany Hall to control Democratic politicsin New York City. Candidates Tweed supported were elected mayor,governor of New York, and speaker of the state assembly. In return forTweed’s support, politicians allowed Tweed to name appointees topositions under their control. In this way, Tweed spread his support and hispower.

In 1863 Tweed was named deputy street commissioner. In that capacity he enlarged the street department, rewarding his supporters withjobs. He also found a way to control the city treasury and profited illegallyfrom many city transactions. With Tweed’s approval, contractorsovercharged the city then shared the profit with him. The Tweed Ringfaked leases, padded bills, overpriced goods and services, and gotkickbacks in return. It is estimated that the Tweed Ring stole between $30million and $200 million from New York City.

In 1867 Tweed was elected to the state senate, where he continued to userewards, kickbacks, and bribery to expand his influence. Tweed receivedhundreds of thousands of dollars from the Erie Railroad for his help ingetting legislation passed that helped the company.

By helping the poor, providing jobs, and in some cases giving peoplefood and fuel, Tweed ensured that many people would ignore hiscorruption Tweed also controlled agencies that gave government money tocharitable groups.

Tweed’s enemies in Tammany Hall eventually exposed his illegalactivities, leaking details about Tweed’s corruption to the New York Times. In 1872 Tweed was convicted on 204 of 220 counts of failing to auditclaims against the city. While in jail, he died of heart failure. More than

100 years later, he still stands as a symbol of political corruption.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

  1. Describe: In what kind of illegal activities did Tweed engage? What is a Political Machine?
  1. Recall: Why did Tweed get away with the crimes he committed for so long?

Using What You Know: People place a great deal of trust in the politicians they elect. However,elected officials can easily use their power for personal gain. Do a web-search to learn more about a recent political scandal.

  • What did the politician do?
  • How were the illegal activities discovered?
  • What was the penalty for the crime?
  • Should politicians, because of the public trust they hold, be held to a higher standard of conduct? Explain your answer.

The Populist Party

Answer the following questions about the Populist (or People’s) Party. Use your text, notes, and internet sources to find the information.

  1. Who were the people that the People's/Populist Party represented?
  1. Most of the common men were farmers, workers in factories of the Industrial Revolution, and newly arriving immigrants. What was the People's/Populist Party asking of these people?
  1. Even though the People's/Populist Party never became as powerful as the Democratic and Republican Parties, how did it change American politics and government? List 7 ideas the People's/Populist Party helped bring into the United States.
  1. What did the Populist Party think in regard to natural resources?

Women’s Suffrage Movement

Political Cartoon Activity—Study the political cartoon, and then answer the questions that follow.

  1. This 1912 cartoon about the women’s suffrage movement was entitled “Make Way!” For whom or what do you think the cartoonist is saying to make way? Explain.
  1. Why might this cartoon have been controversial when it was published, especiallyamong men?
  1. Which amendment, ratified in 1920, gave women nationwide the right to vote?

The Progressive Movement—1890-1920

Answer the following questions about the Progressive Movement. Use your text, notes, and internet sources to find the information.

  1. Define reform. What reforms did the progressives want for America? Which reformers worked for racial reforms?
  1. Who were the muckrakers? What part did they play in progressive reform?
  1. Who were the 3 progressive presidents? What reforms did each of them enact?
  1. What worldwide event lead to the end of the Progressive Era? Why?

Primary Source Activity: President Theodore Roosevelt Calls for Trust Regulation

ABOUT THE SOURCE An assassin shot President William McKinley onSeptember 6, 1901. McKinley died eight days later, making Theodore Rooseveltpresident. The new chief executive brought his concerns about big business tothe White House. He believed the national government should use its power toregulate large corporations. The passage below is from President Roosevelt’sfirst annual message to Congress on December 3, 1901.
As you read, note the reasons Roosevelt gives for the changes he is proposing. The following words may be new to you: uncharitableness, uniformity, derives,foretell, confer. You may want to use a dictionary to look them up.

There is widespread conviction in the minds of the American people thatthe great corporations known as trusts are in certain of their features andtendencies hurtful to the general welfare. This springs from no spirit ofenvy or uncharitableness, nor lack of pride in the great industrialachievements that have placed this country at the head of nations struggling for commercial supremacy. It does not rest upon a lack ofintelligent appreciation of the necessity of meeting changing and changedconditions of trade with new methods, nor upon ignorance of the fact thatcombination of capital in the effort to accomplish great things is necessarywhen the world’s progress demands that great things be done. It is basedupon sincere conviction that combination and concentration should be, notprohibited, but supervised and within reasonable limits controlled; and inmy judgment this conviction is right…

Corporations engaged in interstate commerce should be regulated if they are found to exercise a license working to the public injury. It should be asmuch the aim of those who seek for social betterment to rid the businessworld of crimes of cunning as to rid the entire body politic of crimes ofviolence. Great corporations exist only because they are created andsafeguarded by our institutions; and it is therefore our right and duty to see that they work in harmony with these institutions…

The large corporations, commonly called trusts, though organized in one State, always do business in many States, often doing very little business inthe State where they are incorporated. There is utter lack of uniformity inthe State laws about them; and as no State has any exclusive interest in orpower over their acts, it has in practice proved impossible to get adequateregulation through State action. Therefore, in the interest of the wholepeople, the Nation should, without interfering with the power of the States in the matter itself, also assume power of supervision and regulation over all corporations doing an interstate business. This is especially true where the corporation derives a portion of its wealth from the existence of some monopolistic element or tendency in its business…

When the Constitution was adopted, at the end of the eighteenth century, no human wisdom could foretell the sweeping changes, alike in industrial and political conditions, which were to take place by the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time it was accepted as a matter of course that the several States were the proper authorities to regulate, so far as was then necessary, the comparatively insignificant and strictly localized corporate bodies of the day. The conditions are now wholly different and wholly different action is called for. I believe that a law can be framed which will enable the National Government to exercise control along the lines above indicated, profiting by the experience gained through the passage and administration of the Interstate Commerce Act. If, however, the judgment of Congress is that it lacks the constitutional power to pass such an act, then a constitutional amendment should be submitted to confer the power. (Source: The Roosevelt Policy, Vol. 1, William Griffith, editor)

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

  1. According to President Roosevelt, how did the American people feel about largecorporations?
  1. How did Roosevelt feel about large corporations?
  1. How did Roosevelt justify the need for government regulation of the trusts?

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