Big Apple History . Business and Politics . Tweed's Machine


	Boss Tweed

Tammany Hall was as old as the republic itself, founded in 1788, the same year George Washington was elected president for the first time. It was named after a legendary Delaware Indian chief, and although members called their headquarters the "wigwam" and sometimes dressed up like "braves," the Society of St. Tammany did not include Indians. Nor did it have rich men like George Washington among its members.

Tammany Hall was a political club. Most of its members were Irish-American workingmen and craftsmen closed out of the city's more exclusive clubs. Slowly, Tammany men took over the local Democratic Party and turned their club into a political "machine." If people voted for, or gave money to, Tammany politicians, they were rewarded with jobs, city services, and/or building contracts with the city.


Tammany Hall, 1860s

The organization had always been a bit corrupt -- taking bribes, giving city contracts to members, and stealing funds from the city treasury -- but during and after the Civil War, Tammany's corruption reached new heights. Tammany Hall became so corrupt that the name is now used to describe deceitful behavior.

In 1863, Tammany elected a new leader named William "Boss" Tweed. A former fireman, Tweed entered government in his 20s and came to hold many posts: county supervisor, state senator, commissioner of public works. Soon he added another title to that list: crook.

Top illustration: Courtesy of the Museum of the City of New York.

Bottom illustration: Courtesy of the Lisa Ades Collection.