Richard M. Daley: Machine-Style Politics

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Recommended: Importance and consequences of industrialisation

Machine-style politics is a system where material incentives are used to garner political support (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015, p. 48). Two factors-industrialization and the rise of a mass electorate-facilitated the emergence of the American political machine (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015, p. 51). Industrialization was a period of economic transformation from an agrarian to an industrial society. Industry requires manpower to fill factory jobs in the city, and this demand for labor attracted people from the countryside and immigrants from overseas to come to American cities (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015, pp. 26, 29). The influx of people to cities coupled with the spread of universal male suffrage gave the machines opportunities to win votes (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015, p. 52). Life for industrial workers and especially immigrants, both of whom could now vote, …show more content…

The reason for the continued presence of machine-like practices is because the political structure in some large cities is still configured in a way that allows machine-style politics to be successful. Thus, if machine-style practices can effectively elect certain people into power, said people will engage in these activities. The Chicago Democratic organization provides an excellent example of a body that still partakes in machine practices. Even though Richard M. Daley, who was able to hand out patronage jobs during his tenure, left office in 2011, Mayor Rahm Emanuel still receives the benefits from Chicago's machine past. For example, the Chicago City Council still does not challenge the mayor's policies, and, in return, Emanuel has set up PACs to give campaign funds to his supporters on city council (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015, p. 150). Therefore, even if Chicago is not run completely like a political machine of old, the city still retains remnants of the machine's

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