1. The Political Machine: Machine Politics

3. “We have had before us many of those who have been, and most of those who are now, members of the House of Delegates. We found a number of these utterly illiterate and lacking in ordinary intelligence, unable to give a better reason for favoring or opposing a measure than a desire to act with the majority. In some, no trace of mentality or morality could be found; in others, a low order of training appeared, united with base cunning, groveling instincts, and sordid desires. The choosing of such men to be legislators makes a travesty of justice, sets a premium on incompetency, and deliberately poisons the very source of the law.”

4. The blackest years were 1898, 1899, and 1900
The blackest years were 1898, 1899, and Foreign corporations came into the city to share in its despoilation, and home industries were driven out by blackmail. Franchises worth millions were granted without one cent of cash to the city, and with provision for only the smallest future payment; several companies which refused to pay blackmail had to leave; citizens were robbed more and more boldly; pay-rolls were padded with the names of non-existent persons; work on public improvements was neglected, while money for them went to the boodlers.

5. Dr. Seuss’ interpretation of Tammany Hall

6. What was 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 Fiorello LaGuardia in The eighty-year period between those two elections marks the time in which Tammany was the city's driving political force,

7. What is Tammany Hall?
Throughout the early nineteenth century Tammany continued to deepen its association with the Democratic party, emerging as the controlling interest in New York City elections after Andrew Jackson's presidential victory in 1828.

8. What is Tammany Hall?
Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, the society expanded its political control even further by earning the loyalty of the city's ever-expanding immigrant community, a task that was accomplished by helping newly arrived foreigners obtain jobs, a place to live, and even citizenship so that they could vote for Tammany candidates in city and state elections.

9. What is Tammany?
By 1854, all these factors had combined to make Tammany a political force of hegemonic proportions in New York City, conferring immense power on the society's bosses and allowing them to enrich themselves and their associates through corruption and administrative abuse. William M. "Boss" Tweed's infamously corrupt reign was nefarious enough to incite an attempt at reform in the early 1870s, but Tammany was consistently able to function in spite of such efforts and continued to direct the flow of money, patronage, and votes into the early 1930s.

10. Who was Boss Tweed?
To many late 19th century Americans, he personified public corruption. In the late 1860s, William M. Tweed was the New York City's political boss. His headquarters, located on East 14th Street, was known as Tammany Hall. He wore a diamond, orchestrated elections, controlled the city's mayor, and rewarded political supporters.

11. Who was Boss Tweed?
His primary source of funds came from the bribes and kickbacks that he demanded in exchange of city contracts. The most notorious example of urban corruption was the construction of the New York County Courthouse, begun in 1861 on the site of a former almshouse. Officially, the city wound up spending nearly $13 million--roughly $178 million in today's dollars--on a building that should have cost several times less. Its construction cost nearly twice as much as the purchase of Alaska in 1867.

12. Who was Boss Tweed?
The corruption was breathtaking in its breadth and baldness. A carpenter was paid $360,751 (roughly $4.9 million today) for one month's labor in a building with very little woodwork.
A furniture contractor received $179,729 ($2.5 million) for three tables and 40 chairs. And the plasterer, A tammany functionary, Andrew J. Garvey, got $133,187 ($1.82 million) for two days' work
When a committee investigated why it took so long to build the courthouse, it spent $7,718 ($105,000) to print its report. The printing company was owned by Tweed.

13. Boss Tweed

14. How the Political Machine Worked
II’m Boss Tweed and I can get you a nice house and a job…..remember to vote for my party at the elections!
I give them the things they need and they give me votes…..that is the political machine. God Bless the USA and easily swayed immigrants……
That Boss Tweed is swell, we have a nice house and I have a job, I’m going to tell all of my friends back in the old country to come to NY , because it is great