Boss Tweed In American History

There have been many famous and well-known politicians throughout American history, such as, the Founding Fathers, John F. Kennedy, and most recently Barack Obama. However, there is also one 19TH century politician that remains highly notable among all the others. This man is William “Boss” Tweed, who the American people remember as one if not the most corrupt politicians of his century. Even though William “Boss” Tweed notoriously known for taking control of Tammany Hall, it is equally important to acknowledge that through it he made a fortune via embezzling money and extorting millions of dollars.
William Magear Tweed was born in 1823 on April 3RD and started a “volunteer firefighter company” in 1848 (Moore). In 1851 Tweed ran for alderman for the second time and was successful, unlike the year before. Later he …show more content…
The peak Tammany Hall’s power lasted “eighty year[s]” from 1854 through 1934, and maintained its by obtaining the loyalty of the immigrant community that was rapidly growing (Tammany Hall). Those in Tammany Hall went out of their way to aid foreigners in adjusting to life in America, by assisting them to “obtain jobs, a place to live” and not to forget citizenship (Tammany Hall). The reason they went to all this trouble to preserve the power already obtained by them, after receiving so much help from the Democratic party in Tammany Hall the immigrants turned citizens were morally obligated to vote for them in elections. After William “Boss” Tweed reached the top of Tammany Hall he used his power and influence to place other politicians in local governmental positions in other cities, as well as in the state government. Tweed also created the “Tweed Ring” with in Tammany Hall which was an even more exclusive section of this organization and “openly corrupt” (The Grange