Question

What is a political machine? What are the types of the political machines.

Answer 1

A

political machine
is a political group in which an authority or boss commands the support of supporters, businesses, and campaign workers who receive rewards for their efforts.
Boss Tweed
William Magear Tweed, Sr., better known as Boss Tweed, was a Democratic politician noted for being the political "boss" of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the politics of New York City.
Political Bosses
A political boss a leader of a political machine who controls votes. They also control jobs, business licenses, the granting of contracts, and also influenced laws and courts.

Political bosses would also help immigrants with naturalization and jobs in exchange for votes for their political party.
Political Corruption
Political machines were the source of much political corruption. They allowed the following acts to take place:

Voter Fraud
When a person used fake names and voted multiple times.

Patronage
Granting favors in return for political support.

Graft
Using bribes to gain political support.

Kick-backs
The return of money in exchange for business.
A cartoon of Boss Tweed, by Thomas Nast.
Tweed Ring Scandal
The Tweed Ring Scandal took place in Tammany Hall, New York City's powerful Democratic political machine.

The "Tweed Ring" was a group of corrupt politicians, including Boss Tweed. They stole between $20-400 million dollars.

Boss Tweed was arrested, and eventually died in jail.
The Tweed Ring
Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, shows Boss Tweed's source of power: control of the ballot box.

Tweed: "As long as I count the Votes, what are you going to do about it?"