Posted: May 13th, 2018

Use Inference and Extrapolation to Answer Questions

Question description

Corruption
nourished by these changes permeated the executive and legislative branches of
the federal government throughout the nineteenth century, peaking in the
scandals that rocked the Grant administration in the mid-1870s. What most
aroused concern, though, was corruption identified with municipal and state
governments—focal points of business pressure for concessions and privileges,
and nurseries of the great nineteenth-century political machines. Its
characteristic form, pioneered by New York’s Tammany Hall, was a web of
understandings between party leaders, officeholders, and businessmen willing to
cut corners. In return for getting out the vote, the machine received exclusive
control of government appointments and programs—the spoils of office. Its
placemen returned a fixed percentage of their salaries to the organization,
along with a cut of whatever bribes, kickbacks, and the like they could devise.
The resulting stream of “boodle” (a lush new vocabulary of corruption was being
created, too) then passed down to county and district leaders, ward heelers,
and precinct captains. They completed the cycle by distributing the gifts and
favors that ensured voter loyalty to the organization on election day.
Instructions: In a separate
document, answer each of the following questions based on the above provided
text. For each question, identify the most correct answer and provide a brief
explanation (1-3 sentences) of why it is the most correct.
1.  According
to this passage, the area of political corruption of most concern in the late
19th Century was:
a.  The
extent of corrupting business influences within the Grant Administration of the
mid-1870’s.
b.  Insidious
networks of understandings developed by local and state political machines
between business and party leaders and officials.
c.  The
bribery of officials elected to federal office by local governmental political
machines.
d.  The
equitable distribution of “boodle” between party officials, government
appointees, and other officials.
2.  It
can be inferred from this passage that groups such as Tammany Hall:
a.  Were
highly organized and effective organizations devoted to developing and
maintaining political power for their operators.
b.  Devoted
themselves to the betterment of their constituencies through whatever means
necessary.
c.  Could
never have been successful without the increases in corruption at the level of
the federal government as exhibited within the Grant Administration.
d.  Were
ultimately ineffectual in maintaining a political hold over their various
localities.
3.  Based
on this passage, it would be most correct to say:
a.  The
executive branch of the 19th Century lacked the will, political or
otherwise, to deal with issues of corruption at the local and state levels.
b.  The
leaders of the local business communities were the true driving forces behind
Tammany Hall.
c.  Many
members of a political machine paid into the system, which was used to maintain
and expand its hold on power.
d.  The
political machines were a mechanism created to redistribute an excess of wealth
held by the industrial barons of the 19th Century.
4.  Based
on this passage, political corruption:
a.  By
the mid-1870’s, it could be found at alarming levels throughout all areas of
government: local, state, and federal.
b.  Was
only problematic in certain, confined regions and sectors, in particular New
York and Washington, D.C.
c.  Served
to benefit large portions of the population who had been previously
disenfranchised by the government.
d.  In
the 19th Century it eventually collapsed under the weight of its own
hypocrisy.
5.  “Boodle”
was the result of what?
a.  Party
loyalists contributing to a specific party to aid them in their election bid.
b.  Members
of the federal legislature providing kickbacks to their local party officials.
c.  Bribes
paid by businessmen looking for political favors from local officials or other
members of the political machine.
d.  Members
of the machine returning a portion of governmental salaries, kickbacks, bribes,
and any other income earned as a result of their appointed position.

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