Boss Tweed & Political machines

1. Political Machine:
Group of powerful men
(politicians) who controlled major
US cities during the 1800-1900s.

2. Tammany Hall
• Tammany Hall was the
name given to the
Democratic political
machine that dominated
New York City politics
• From the mayoral victory
of Fernando Wood in
1854 through the
election of LaGuardia in
1934.
• The eighty-year period
between those two
elections marks the time
in which Tammany was
the city's driving political
force

3. Who’s the Boss???
• Boss Tweed was an infamous figure in
New York politics who dominated New
York City in the mid-1800s
• He essentially controlled the Democratic
Party in New York state during his years in
power.
• He is often pointed to as an iconic figure of
corruption and ruthlessness
• The successful prosecution and
imprisonment of Boss Tweed marked a
critical turning point in New York politics.

6. On loose-leaf…
1. What are two symbols in the cartoon?
2. What is the cartoon’s message?
3. How does the cartoon illustrate the idea of
a political machine?

9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHZYDbludDU

10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5DwnNPHVAU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YildL_ilQFY