Criticism of Political Machines by Progressives
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Explain why political machines and party bosses in the big cities were criticised by Progressives.
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Political machines and party bosses in big cities were heavily criticized by Progressives for a variety of reasons. One of the key criticisms stemmed from the fact that these party machines, such as Boss Tweed's Tammany Hall, operated in a corrupt manner for their own personal gain rather than in the interests of the public. Tammany Hall, for instance, functioned as an organization that exploited its control over city government to secure lucrative contracts and benefits for its members, known as the Tweed Ring, at the expense of taxpayers and the city's well-being.
Furthermore, party machines like Tammany Hall exerted a tight grip over local elections by manipulating voter registration and election procedures to ensure that their preferred candidates were elected. This undermined the democratic process and perpetuated a cycle of corruption, patronage, and cronyism within city government.
Progressives also criticized party machines for their tendency to prioritize the interests of specific immigrant groups over those of the wider population. While Tammany Hall, for example, provided support and protection to Irish Catholic immigrants and later embraced other immigrant communities, such as Germans, Jews, Italians, and Poles, they were often accused of exploiting these groups for political gain. Critics argued that the party machines were taking advantage of immigrants' vulnerabilities and lack of political awareness for their own benefit, rather than addressing the broader issues facing all residents of the city.
In addition to these reasons, progressives were concerned that party machines and their bosses wielded disproportionate power and influence over city affairs, stifling meaningful reform and perpetuating systemic corruption. The lack of transparency, accountability, and fair competition in city politics under the control of these machines fueled public distrust and discontent among citizens who sought more ethical and efficient governance.
Overall, the monopolistic and self-serving nature of political machines and party bosses in big cities clashed with the ideals of Progressivism, which aimed to promote democracy, transparency, and social justice. The criticism of these entities by Progressives reflected a broader push for political reform and ethical governance in urban centers during the Progressive Era.
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Explain why political machines and party bosses in the big cities were criticised by Progressives.
One of the best known party machines was Boss Tweed’s organisation known as Tammany Hall, after the headquarters of a charity, St. Tammany. Tammany Hall politics meant the control of city government by a small group of individuals who conspired to their own material benefit by gaining control of key departments and the money they spent.
It also meant control of local elections as Tammany Hall politicians controlled the registration of electors and the conduct of elections. Thus, they could be sure that grateful voters would elect their friends, knowing that they would issue contracts which benefited both Tammany members, also known as the Tweed Ring, as well as their voters.
Party machines, and the Bosses that went with them, were unpopular with progressive reformers in particular because they abused both the electoral process and the conduct of city government mainly in their own self-interest.
However, there were other reasons that people disliked these machines – one of which was their support of immigrant groups. Tammany Hall defended Irish Catholics against State Militiamen when an Orange march was proposed in the city. They also included other European immigrant populations over time, embracing Germans, Jews, Italians, Poles, and others as they arrived, and later recruiting members of those groups to run for office. Although progressive-minded reformers saw this as using an ‘uneducated’ population; nativist groups also disliked some activities of the party machines. Accept any other valid responses.