Society of Tammany

Tammany, Society of, or the Columbian Order, New York City Democratic political organization. Founded in 1789 as a “fraternity of patriots” dedicated to preserving the nation's independence, it evolved into the most powerful political machine in New York City's Democratic party. Tammany Hall, as it came to be known, drew much of its strength from newly arrived immigrants willing to pledge their votes for services and political favors. Scandals clouded much of its existence, the most infamous being the corruption of William M. “Boss” Tweed, convicted of defrauding the city of millions of dollars in 1871. Tammany Hall regained much of the power it lost after Tweed's conviction, but in the early 1930s state investigations weakened it, and the organization suffered defeats in the 1932 elections. It had a brief resurgence following World War II but, by the 1970s, ceased to exist as a political force.

See also: Bucktails; Nast, Thomas; Tweed, William Marcy ‘Boss’.