How Political Machines Controlled the Gilded Age

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This engaging educational video explores the complex concept of political machines during the American Gilded Age, using an accessible metaphor of a corrupt amusement park to explain how these organizations operated. The host breaks down the mechanics of how political bosses consolidated power by trading essential services—like jobs, housing, and infrastructure—for votes and loyalty from the growing immigrant populations in overcrowded cities.