<P> Many machines formed in cities to serve immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th century who viewed machines as a vehicle for political enfranchisement . Machine workers helped win elections by turning out large numbers of voters on election day . It was in the machine 's interests to only maintain a minimally winning amount of support . Once they were in the majority and could count on a win , there was less need to recruit new members , as this only meant a thinner spread of the patronage rewards to be spread among the party members . As such , later - arriving immigrants , such as Jews , Italians , and other immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe between the 1880s and 1910s , saw fewer rewards from the machine system than the well - established Irish . At the same time , the machines ' staunchest opponents were members of the middle class , who were shocked at the malfeasance and did not need the financial help . </P>
<P> Many machines formed in cities to serve immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th century who viewed machines as a vehicle for political enfranchisement . Machine workers helped win elections by turning out large numbers of voters on election day . It was in the machine 's interests to only maintain a minimally winning amount of support . Once they were in the majority and could count on a win , there was less need to recruit new members , as this only meant a thinner spread of the patronage rewards to be spread among the party members . As such , later - arriving immigrants , such as Jews , Italians , and other immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe between the 1880s and 1910s , saw fewer rewards from the machine system than the well - established Irish . At the same time , the machines ' staunchest opponents were members of the middle class , who were shocked at the malfeasance and did not need the financial help . </P>
who did political machines appeal to the most
who did political machines appeal to the most
immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th century
immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th century