Final answer:
Immigrants supported political machines because they provided necessary services and jobs, acting as intermediaries that bypassed bureaucratic delays, while expecting political support in return.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immigrants supported political machines because they provided practical assistance and access to services that were otherwise hard to obtain through traditional bureaucratic channels. Political machines like Tammany Hall in New York facilitated solutions to immediate problems such as the need for public infrastructure, and in return, they expected political support in future elections. By assisting with jobs, social services, and sometimes even health services, political machines filled a gap left by the government's inability to quickly respond to the needs of growing urban populations, many of whom were immigrants. Furthermore, the act of providing jobs or other incentives for political support also allowed political machines to exert control over the electoral process, further cementing their power within the urban centers.