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Political Machines
Political machines are political groups which an a reliable boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses, who receive rewards for their effort. They had benefits like helping in emergencies, government jobs and a variety of social services. They also had entertainment fro lower classes through rallies and parades. -
Political Bosses
Political bosses are professional politicians who control political machines in cities, counties, or states. Bosses first emerge when masses of newly franchised, inexperienced voters provided bosses with opportunities for regimentation, mobilization, and manipulation. Each subsequent expansion of the franchise to new classes of voters, and each new wave of immigrants allowed bosses to strengthen their political power base. -
William Tweed
Tweed was the boss of Tammany Hall, he was known as "Boss Tweed". The "Tweed Ring" was invented in 1860 and on 1868 the tweed ring financially drained New York through faked leases, false vouchers, extravagantly padded bills and various other schemes. For that he was tried and convicted on charges of forgery and larceny he was released two years later and he wanted to recover millions he stole and was arrested again. -
Immigration
Most of the immigrants were from Greece, Italy, and Russia. Most of them were Roman Catholic. The tenement housing and factory conditions were horrible but became popular because of the large amount of immigrants. Many immigrants did not want to be citizens they just wanted to make money and send their family and eventually go back to their country.
