Negative Effects Of Political Machines

"Yes, many of our men have grown rich in politics. I have myself," boasted George Washington Plunkitt, a New York politician and a member of Tammany Hall, ane of the city's infamous "political machines."

At the plough of the 20th century, many U.S. cities were run by collections of self-serving political machines. These organizations controlled access to political ability by rigging votes, buying people's loyalty — and their ballots. Tammany Hall in New York City became the virtually famous, but Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago had their ain political machines.

Cartoon showing people pushing over a booth advertising a rally (© Bettmann/Getty Images) — In this 1887 woodcut, political opponents pull down a Tammany Hall booth on Ballot Solar day. (© Bettmann/Getty Images)

Local officials elected with the bankroll of political machines would use their positions to dispense favors — often jobs — to supporters. Unelected political machine bosses would snag lucrative contracts for big projects in their cities, which would make them and their followers rich.

Information technology was so much money that Plunkitt wondered why anyone would resort to criminal behavior when there was so much "honest graft" to be had.

Starting around 1900, still, people power started to take apart political machines such equally Tammany Hall. Nationwide, a progressive era began. Reform candidates called for an end to political patronage. Journalists exposed and lampooned the corruption of political bosses. Civil service examinations helped keep unqualified party loyalists from government positions.

Political machines around the world

Machine politics can crop upwards anywhere, equally long every bit corrupt politicians feel compelled to buy votes or can go admission to state funds and misuse them.

Close-up of several hands with writing on them (© Juancho Torres/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) — Venezuelans in the midst of a massive hunger crisis wait to receive food deliveries at a edge boondocks in Colombia. (© Juancho Torres/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

In Venezuela, the Maduro regime uses hunger to get votes. And in Islamic republic of iran, ostensibly charitable organizations such every bit the Bonyad Mostazafan use money to enrich their leaders. Bonyads often ain hundreds of businesses whose profits flow to bosses. Bonyads are in the structure industry, too, edifice domestic drome terminals and infrastructure in other countries.

Historians attribute the eventual downfall of Tammany Hall to the anti-corruption platform of Fiorello La Guardia, who served equally mayor of New York Urban center from 1934 to 1945. His term inspired a new political order that replaced the machines.

That tradition continues today in the way parties choose their candidates. During the Progressive Era, states began to adopt direct master systems, in which citizens cull party candidates rather than political bosses. Today's combination of primaries and caucuses that select U.S. presidential candidates is 1 legacy of this era.

This story was originally published June i.