Dale Henderson, age 17, of Haggerstown, Md., for his question:
WHAT WAS TAMMANY HALL?
The Tammany Society was a patriotic and charitable organization that was dedicated to the preservation of democratic institutions. It started in 1789 in New York City and was often referred to as Tammany Hall, after the name of its headquarters.
At first Tammany was organized with branches in 13 states, but the national charter was short lived. It soon became the executive committee of the Democratic Party and it was a powerful political organization that actually ran New York City.
During the mid 1800s Tammany gained power by helping people without property obtain the right to vote. It also won support among many of New York City's immigrants, whom it had helped find jobs and become citizens.
Most importantly, Tammany officials controlled many jobs in city government. These jobs were given to people who could win votes for Tammany candidates.
The most powerful and best known leader of Tammany Hall was William Tweed, who was called "Boss" Tweed. In the 1860s he put his friends in important jobs and with their help was able to steal millions of dollars from the city. The Tweed ring was finally broken in 1873 and the Boss himself went to jail. There was some reform then, but corrupt leaders soon had control again.
Tammany controlled New York City most of the time until to 1933.
In 1933 a group of reform minded Democrats and Republicans elected Fiorello H. La Guardia mayor of New York and he did much to reform the city government. During his 12 years in office, Tammany lost power. More and more city jobs required civil service examinations, not friends in city hall.
When the Democrats regained control of New York City in 1945, Tammany was just one of five borough groups. A Tammany man named Carmine De Sapio had very little power. And when he was defeated in 1961, the name Tammany Hall gradually passed out of use.
Tammany had been founded in New York City by a former soldier and a prominent anti Federalist named William Mooney. It was named for a 17th Century Delaware Indian chief known for his wisdom.
In 1798 Aaron Burr won control of Tammany and he organized it as a strict political machine that helped elect Thomas Jefferson president and Burr vice president in 1800.
In 1836 the leader of Tammany, Martin Van Buren, was elected U.S. President.
The society first gained New York City political dominance in 1855 when one of its leaders, a man named Fernando Wood, was elected mayor. And then 12 years later "Boss" Tweed took over.
The Tammany Society was also known as the Colombian Order.