Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall:

Caught In The Political Machine

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Caught in the Political Machine: Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall

Political machines are the driving force that gets candidates elected and by doing so build almost unlimited power. The Democratic and Republican parties are both familiar examples of powerful political machines.

Tammany Hall is an important example of a historic political machine. Founded in 1786, it grew to have much power in its ability to get Democratic Party candidates elected. Tammany hall controlled immigrant votes by exchanging assistance for votes.

The bosses of Tammany Hall held varying levels of power over New York City from the 1790s to the 1960s. Fraud and extreme mismanagement of public funds contributed to the fall from political power that ultimately saw the end of Tammany Hall.

In this game, you will learn more about Tammany Hall and political machines.

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Caught in the Political Machine: Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall

Standards addressed in this adventure: Florida State Standard SS.912.A.3.11

Analyze the impact of political machines in United States cities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.