American History II
CW
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The Gilded Age: Bosses and Industrialists
William “Boss” Tweed
Corrupt Boss of the New York Political Machine
“There is not in the history of villainy a parallel for the gigantic crime against property
conspired [to] by the Tammany Ring.”—Henry G. Stebbins, report of the Committee of
Seventy that investigated the Tweed Ring (1871)
William Marcy Tweed was the most spectacular example of the corrupt boss of the urban political machine of the 1800s.
Rising from obscurity to control New York City in a time of its great growth, Tweed and his friends raked in a fortune.
Then their empire quickly collapsed.
Tweed (1823–1878) was born in New York. He became a bookkeeper and seemed ready for modest success. After
becoming chief of a volunteer fire company, he turned to politics, running for alderman as a Democrat. Knowing that he
would probably lose the election to the Whig candidate, he persuaded a friend to run as an independent Whig. By splitting
that party’s vote, Tweed won the election.
Tweed took over New York’s Democratic Party, called Tammany Hall after its headquarters. Soon he was elected to the
board of supervisors. Despite having no legal training, he opened a law office in 1860. One client paid him $100,000 in
one year alone, knowing that his so-called legal advice would prove useful. Winning the election of friends to various city
posts, “Boss” Tweed built his power. In 1861 his candidate defeated a rival for mayor. The campaign cost Tweed
$100,000—but he made the money back quickly. Soon thereafter Tweed was the head of several New York politicians, a
corrupt group—known as a “ring”—that took over control of city finances. They cheated the government out of millions of
dollars.
In 1868, the ring controlled the mayor of New York City, the speaker of the state assembly, and the state’s governor. In
1869, the ring decided that all bills sent to New York City and the county would be doubled, with the extra money going
into their pockets. Later the share was increased even more. Because the city did not enjoy complete freedom from state
control, Tweed had a new city charter written. It appeared to simplify city government, thus winning the support of many
prominent New Yorkers as a useful reform. Its real purpose, though, was to increase Tammany control over the city
government. Tweed got the state legislature to pass the charter. By authorizing the building of the Brooklyn Bridge,
Tweed collected $40,000 in stock. The millions received from the fraudulent scheme to build the county courthouse was
split five ways. Four parts went to Tweed and three friends. The final share was used to distribute among lesser
politicians.
In 1870, the press began a campaign against the Tweed Ring. Harper’s Weekly, led by cartoonist Thomas Nast, was first.
It was followed by the New York Times. The next year, two Democratic opponents of the ring gave the Times official
records that showed widespread corruption. The ring offered the newspaper $5 million not to publish the evidence—and
another $500,000 to Nast to stop drawing his cartoons. But they went ahead, and New Yorkers rose in anger. An
investigating committee condemned Tweed and his partners, who were then arrested. Tweed spent his last eight years in
and out of court and prison. He died in jail at age 55.
1.
How did Tweed win his election to Alderman of New York, his first political “dirty trick”?
2.
What was the name of New York City’s Democratic Party?
3.
After his election to the Board of Supervisors, how did Tweed build his power?
4.
To what did Tweed become the head?
5.
What did this group of politicians do?
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6.
Who did the “ring” control in 1868?
7.
Under the guise of reform, what did the newly written New York City charter allow the “Tweed Ring?”
8.
On what two construction projects did Tweed and his cronies make money?
9.
Starting in 1870, who led the press campaign against Tweed?
10.
What did two Democratic opponents of Tweed offer the New York Times?
11.
What did Tweed ring do in response?
12.
What finally happened to Tweed and his cronies?
#22
Gilded Age Wealthy Industrialists
Using the power point, “Gilded Age Wealthy Industrialists,” answer the following questions.
1.
Who wrote the novel “The Gilded Age?”
2.
What does “gilded” mean?
3.
In the novel, what type of American society did Twain depict?
4.
Explain the term “Captain of Industry.”
5.
Explain the term “Robber Barons.”
6.
What did the term “Robber Barons” describe?
7.
What kind of methods did “Robber Barons” use to gain power?
8.
List the seven “Robber Barons” mentioned.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
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9.
What percentage of US wealth did “Robber Barons” control in the late 1800’s?
10.
Most of the billionaires in 1900 made their money in what industry?
11.
To what were “Robber Barons” of the 19th century compared?
12.
In what industry was the Credit Mobilier involved?
13.
What did the Credit Mobilier Scandal expose?
14.
Who were the four men involved in the battle for the Erie Railroad?
15.
How did Cornelius Vanderbilt earn the name “Commodore?”
16.
After investing in railroads in the 1860’s and building the first line connecting New York to Chicago, what else did
Vanderbilt build?
17.
Define conspicuous consumption. Give an example.
18.
In what industry was Daniel Drew involved?
19.
How did Daniel Drew lose all his money?
20.
Who was called the “worst man in the world?” Why?
21.
Explain the results of “Black Friday.”
22.
What was one of Jay Gould’s business strategies that are now illegal?
23.
What was one of Jay Gould’s major achievements?
24.
What did Jay Gould say that made him so hated?
25.
Explain some of the things James Fisk did in partnership with Gould.
a.
b.
c.
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26.
Describe what happened to Fisk in 1872.
27.
In what industry did John D. Rockefeller join in 1862?
28.
What was the name of the company?
29.
By 1890, what had Standard Oil become?
30.
How did Rockefeller come to dominate the oil industry?
31.
How much was Rockefeller worth?
32.
In what did Andrew Carnegie invest after the Civil War?
33.
In what did Carnegie invest that would eventually led him to dominate the steel industry?
34.
How was Carnegie different than the other “Robber Barons?”
35.
What did Carnegie argued in his book The Gospel of Wealth?
36.
In what industry did J. P. Morgan become a success?
37.
What was the name of this reorganized company?
38.
How did J. P. Morgan make his fortune?
39.
What did J.P. Morgan control by the early 1900s?
40.
What was one of J.P. Morgan’s famous quotes?
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