AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Political Machines (Day 194/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about political machines as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Side Sectional View of Tenement House, 38 Cherry Street, N.Y, Wikimedia Commons

With the growth of cities in the late 19th century, organizations called political machines played a significant role in alleviating municipal concerns especially in urban immigrant communities.

“Going through the storm of universal suffrage,” New York Public Library

Machine leaders, known as bosses, secured and maintained power through a system of favors, jobs, and services to constituents in exchange for political support. They then wielded immense influence over local politics.

“Building the Pyramid,” Wikimedia Commons

These machines, such as Tammany Hall in New York City and the Pendergast machine in Kansas City, provided essential services like jobs, housing, and social support. 

“In Counting there is Strength,” Wikimedia Commons

However, they were also notorious for engaging in corrupt practices such as bribery, kickbacks, and election fraud with millions of taxpayer dollars ending up in the pockets of machine bosses and supporters.

Political machines were organizations that sought to maintain power by exchanging social services for votes and were often characterized by fraud and misconduct.

Join me tomorrow as I explain Tammany Hall government corruption in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!