<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
immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th century