History

History

  • Submitted By: post50
  • Date Submitted: 07/31/2013 5:11 AM
  • Category: History Other
  • Words: 2180
  • Page: 9
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William "Boss" Tweed began his rise to influence in the late 1840s as a volunteer fireman in New York City. From this inauspicious beginning, Tweed managed to build a power base in his ward. He served as an alderman in 1852-53 and then was elected to a term in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1853-55. State and local affairs were his prime concern and he remained active in Tammany Hall, the organizational force of the Democratic Party in New York. Tweed emerged as the focal point of patronage decisions, giving him immense power. Boss Tweed gathered a small group of men who controlled New York City's finances. They dispensed jobs and contracts in return for political support and bribes. Historians have never been able to tabulate the full extent to which the city's resources were drained. The amount was no less than $30 million and may have been as much as $200 million. On January 1, 1869, Boss Tweed's man, John T. Hoffman, was inaugurated governor New York State. In New York City itself, Tweed reigned supreme. He controlled the district attorney, the police, the courts, and most of the newspapers. Although a Democrat, he defused criticism from Republican by putting scores of them on the payroll. The inner circle of the Tweed Ring were Mayor A. Oakey Hall, city comptroller Richard B. "Slippery Dick" Connolly, city chamberlain Peter Barr "Bismarck" Sweeny, and William M. Tweed himself, president of the Board of Supervisors. The Tweed Ring and Tammany Hall were not necessarily two sides of the same coin. Despite some overlapping membership, there was a constant battle between these forces. Tweed won an important victory in the state legislature in 1870 when a new city charter was approved. This change vastly increased the power of Tweed's small group as they submitted billings for city work that was never performed, concocted phony legal agreements and a variety of kickback schemes to line their pockets. Popular support of the Ring was maintained with charity...

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