Boss Tweed: Boss Tweed: A Political Machine A Political Machine

Toppled by a Political Toppled by a Political CartoonCartoon

Starring:

•William Marcy Tweed

•Thomas Nast - cartoonist

Boss Tweed and the voteBoss Tweed and the vote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA8hOZbP0MM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHZYDbludDU

The Flock to the CitiesThe Flock to the Cities

Immigrants from all Immigrants from all over Europe came over Europe came pouring into North pouring into North Eastern cities.Eastern cities.

http://http://www.youtube.com/www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMkz-Mrxs-cwatch?v=hMkz-Mrxs-c

With very little money, With very little money, knowledge of the knowledge of the culture and language, culture and language, WHO COULD THEY WHO COULD THEY DEPEND ON?????DEPEND ON?????

Enter...Boss TweedEnter...Boss Tweed

By 1870, he was so By 1870, he was so

powerful and had so many powerful and had so many of his friends (known as his of his friends (known as his "Tweed Ring" cronies) in "Tweed Ring" cronies) in political positions that he political positions that he was able to pass a new city was able to pass a new city charter allowing him and his charter allowing him and his friends to control the city friends to control the city treasury. treasury.

Tweed Gangs of NYTweed Gangs of NY

Between 1865 and 1871, Between 1865 and 1871, Tweed and his associates Tweed and his associates stole approximately $200 stole approximately $200 million from the city.million from the city.

A growing movement was determined to A growing movement was determined to expose and overthrow Tweed.expose and overthrow Tweed.

Cartoonist Thomas Nast also helped spark Cartoonist Thomas Nast also helped spark public outrage against Tweed by creating public outrage against Tweed by creating wicked caricatures of him in wicked caricatures of him in Harper's WeeklyHarper's Weekly magazine. magazine.

THE INFAMOUS TAMMANY TIGER!!!

Tweed unsuccessfully attempted to Tweed unsuccessfully attempted to bribe Nast to leave him alone, but bribe Nast to leave him alone, but on November 19, 1873, Tweed was on November 19, 1873, Tweed was tried and convicted on charges of tried and convicted on charges of forgery and larceny. forgery and larceny.

In the debtor's prison, he was In the debtor's prison, he was allowed daily trips, accompanied by allowed daily trips, accompanied by the jailer, to see his family. On one the jailer, to see his family. On one of these trips, in December 1875, of these trips, in December 1875, he escaped and fled to Spain. he escaped and fled to Spain.

He was a He was a fugitive there fugitive there for a year, for a year, working as a working as a common seaman common seaman on a Spanish on a Spanish ship until he ship until he was recognized was recognized by his likeness by his likeness to a Nast to a Nast cartoon and cartoon and captured. He captured. He died in a died in a debtor's prison debtor's prison on April 12, on April 12, 1878.1878.

Who is Thomas Nast??Who is Thomas Nast??

Long considered the Long considered the greatest American greatest American political cartoonist.political cartoonist.

He is most famous for He is most famous for his work against Boss his work against Boss Tweed;Tweed;

Tweed said, “My Tweed said, “My constituents can’t constituents can’t read. But darn it, they read. But darn it, they can see pictures!”can see pictures!”

Also known for…Also known for…

Along with the Along with the Tammany TigerTammany Tiger, , Nast also:Nast also:– Created the Created the

Republican ElephantRepublican Elephant– Popularized the Popularized the

Democratic DonkeyDemocratic Donkey– Was the first to Was the first to

portray Santa Claus portray Santa Claus as the jolly, rotund, as the jolly, rotund, red-nosed character red-nosed character that is so familiar that is so familiar today.today.

YOUR JOB:YOUR JOB:

Study the Thomas Nast cartoons with Study the Thomas Nast cartoons with your groupmates.your groupmates.

Answer the questions that follow Answer the questions that follow together.together.

Report back to the class your Report back to the class your findings.findings.