Question

How was the problem of political corruption addressed and dealt with at both the local and national levels, and what were the key strategies or measures taken to combat it?

Answer 1

Political corruption was addressed through local reforms and national media exposure. Local strategies included reorganizing government and filling jobs based on merit, while national exposure was facilitated by an increase in newspapers and literacy rates.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the postbellum period in America, political corruption was a major issue both at the local and national levels. At the local level, reformers focused on electing mayors who would support and implement reforms to weaken the control of political machines. They implemented strategies such as reorganizing local government, filling public service jobs based on merit, and taking control of utilities to ensure more affordable services. Meanwhile, at the national level, the increasing number of newspapers and literacy rates led to more exposure of political scandals and corruption. However, solutions to political corruption were more successful at the local level than at the national level.