A poor immigrant is living in New York City's Lower East Side around the turn of the 20th century. Their husband suddenly becomes ill, and his health rapidly gets worse. They have no money for medical help but know who to contact. They contact the 'boss' of the local Democratic political machine. The 'boss' shows up and helps get the husband to the hospital. They say they have no money, and he replies, 'Don't worry about it. Just remember this on election day.' And they do, they vote for whichever Democratic candidate the 'boss' tells them to vote for. To make a long story short, this is how the political machine worked in the big cities of the late-19th and early 20th centuries in America. The machine controlled a system of party loyalists, …show more content…
Since these political machines were intimidating, many citizens were afraid of them. This was the political machines biggest advantage, they used it to scare people into voting and joining them. “An army led by a council seldom conquers it must have a commander-in-chief who settles disputes, decides in emergencies, inspires fear or attachment” this is a quote from document three. It goes through and explains how one of the jobs of the political boss was to inspire fear or attachment. Furthermore, this means that political machines would scare people from talking bad about them, and force them into supporting the political machines. “He dispenses places, rewards the loyal, punishes the mutinous” (Document 3). If citizens didn’t obey political machines rule, the boss would punish them. People, knowing this would happen if they were disobedient, were loyal to political machines even if they didn’t stand for what they say. “He is all the more dangerous because he sits like a spider hidden in the midst of his web” This is how Document 3 described political bosses. They were dangerous. The people saw him as dangerous, so they would listen to them. Everyone had this thought deep down on what these bosses would do to them if they didn’t listen, but they couldn’t risk punishment. The people didn;t know the punishment, but they knew that the boss was capable of anything. “We were fearfully patriotic” (Document 1). The people were afraid to show patriotism and held themselves back. If they weren’t supporting the political machines there were consequences. In the end, the biggest weapon the political machines had was the fear of citizens that they used to frighten everybody till they were on
The summer of 1964, President Lyndon Baines Johnson finally decided to sign the Civil Rights Act. This bill permitted people of all races and skin tones to be free from segregation. It promised the extension on voting rights, stronger equal employment opportunities, and guaranteed all Americans the right to use public facilities such as schools, restaurants and swimming pools (Politics or Principle 405). Many Americans questioned if the true decision behind President Johnson signing the civil rights act of 1964 was political or principle. I strongly believe Johnson signed it in a principle matter due to seeing different perspectives in living with prejudice, he would do anything to get the bill signed and he was finally free from the South's persuasive bonds.
The Political machine provides a service to the American Political system by directly engaging with the general public on trying to satisfy the communities’ needs and issues, helping to reduce discrimination against a majority of under privileged in the government sector, and lastly provides continuous efficiency in order to maintain such a large following.
society can be seen. In the late 1800’s there was a rise in the number
When populism was first used in the United States in the late 1800s, it was geared towards the farmers. The focus on farmers showed the interest the Populists had toward working class people, who made up the majority of the nation. Even though there were more working class people than wealthy, it was the wealthy business owners who ruled society. They ran political machines and monopolies and did not provide the best working and living conditions for their employees. William Jennings Bryan said, “There are two ideas of government...those who believe that if you just legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous that their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea...if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity
Throughout American History, people of power have isolated specific racial and gender groups and established policies to limit their right to vote. These politicians, in desperate attempt to elongate their political reign, resort to “anything that is within the rules to gain electoral advantage, including expanding or contracting the rate of political participation.”(Hicks) Originally in the United States, voting was reserved for white, property-owning gentleman
Political machines were supported by continuing immigration, sustained by patronage, enlarged by wealth, and in the end were weeded out by reformers progress for public rather than private good, and caused by the need for public works and skilled workers, after the population of cities expanded.
After many years of British bombardment, constant wars, and cons in America's government, America finally is the independent country it is today. Although, America was not always free and independent. During the 1600's through the 1800's, America was merely striving for a democracy in which a democracy meant that the people had a voice and were entitled to equal rights. In the 1600's, the mother country Britain took control of America. Britain angered the colonists with silly taxes that the colonists did not want to pay for much like the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act. The British caused many wars and conflicts and angered many but by the 1700's, one wise man by the name of Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration
The united states is a democratic nation that chose to be governed by those who reside on its soil rather than royalty across the ocean in 1776. The framework for how the country would be ran was established in the constitution which was created without the use of democracy since none of the founders were elected. “The “committee of five” included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who were all firmly in the revolutionary camp. The committee also included Roger Sherman, who had some doubts but still backed the independence movement and Robert R. Livingston” (Braunwarth Chp2.4.2). These revolutionaries created the set of rules that they thought would lead to a democracy which poses the question; Can a country that states that
America, at its founding, was radically democratic relative to the time period, but was still far from being a true democracy. In 1776, as the Declaration of Independence was signed, there were many restrictions on voting: only white, property owning, males had the right to vote. This leaves out all women, all Natives, all African Americans, and all men who were not rich; all of those groups made up a large percent of the population. The founding fathers of the United States also didn’t fully believe in the people’s ability to vote intelligently. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that women were too consumed in childcare and were too delicate to be trusted with the power of voting. He also said to James Sullivan, another politician, that if voting were to be more widespread, that it would be dangerous because it could, “confound and destroy all distinctions, prostrate all ranks…” (John Adams 1776).
The Constitution of the United States of America is seen as a vastly democratic document, allowing democracy to flourish here. But is it truly as democratic as believed? Was a democracy even the intended goal of the writers? Well we’ll just have to figure that out. Starting with, who the writers of the Constitution were. Then what a pure democracy even is. Followed by four separate parts of the Constitution and the extent to which that they are democratic. Ending with the answer to our question.
This is first explored when Rudkus becomes a citizen and is tricked to selling his vote. Rudkus later learns that party elections are rigged and backdoor methods are common.In chapter 25, Rudkus works with a political machine. Work with Mike Scully to rig elections to So, what Scully secretly offers the Republicans is this: he will give them money from this poor Democratic nominee's election fund as long as the Republicans promise not to raise a candidate against Mike Scully in the following election after this. END WITH BUSINESSMEN PAY OFF CITY OFFICIALS TO SERVE THEIR
If one were to choose to be either feared or loved, their best bet would be to instill fear in their constituents. A loved, weak leader may be usurped by those with less pure intentions. However, one that is feared will have a much greater, lasting effect on its people and/or followers, scaring them into order. With...
Psychological manipulation the Party uses on the citizens is one of the first themes Orwell exposes in this dystopian society. The Party maintains this manipulation by constantly overwhelming citizens with useless information and propaganda.
The American Political System The American political system is a federal system, which consists of
I feel that, for the most part, mine along with others in my age group’s concerns are not addressed by the political process. To answer this, I took a look at political socialization and how I was socialized politically. Some of my concerns include: minimum wage, social security, pollution and global warming, school loans, and legal ages. There are many reasons why, that I understand, that my generation’s opinions of these issues are not addressed, which I will talk about throughout this paper. Overall, the political process does not address our concerns and voices.