The years following the Civil War were known as the "Gilded Age." Corruption was everywhere. William M. "Boss" Tweed was at the epicenter. Could you imagine taking over a city as large as New York City? Without any legal authority? Somehow, Tweed managed to do just that. William M. Tweed was born April 3, 1823. His father, Richard Tweed, was a furniture chair maker. His mother's name was Eliza Magear Tweed. There is speculation behind his middle name. Most believe it is Magear; however some newspapers claimed that it was Mercy. Due to this issue, on most legal documents his middle name was simply M. As a child growing up in lower Manhattan, young William received an average education. Tweed was known for starting street fights. At …show more content…
Using his authority, he and his cronies on the Board would charge 15% fees to companies wishing to do business with in the city. A friend, Judge George C. Barnard, certified Tweed as a lawyer (with significant lack of training). Tweed then opened up his own practice. In 1861, he was named Chairman of the Democratic General Committee. In addition, he was given the titles Chairmen of Talmany's General Committee and Grand Sachem in 1863. It was at this point when Tweed began to go by "boss." To begin his corruption, Tweed used his law firm to extort money. He would write his income off as legal expenses. Later on, he appointed himself as Deputy Street Commissioner giving him access to the city's contractors and funds. Using his new found abilities, he bought the New York Printing Company and made it the city's official printer. He also purchased the city's stationary suppliers, Manufacturing Stationer's Company. Tweed had both companies overcharge for their services, and then pocketed the profit. Slowly, he began to elevate his friends to powerful positions. Further real estate investments make him the city's 3rd largest land holder of the 1860s. As his reputation grew, Thomas Nast, political cartoonist at Harpers' Weekly, began criticizing …show more content…
The new mayor and some lawmakers, whom got a $600,000 bribe from Tweed, rewrote the New York City's Charter. The changes made gave the city government more power and called for new citywide elections. Vote fraud at elections was rampant. Fifteen council seats were won by Tammany men. Control of finances went to the Board of Audit which consisted of Boss Tweed and two hand-picked Tammany brothers. The "Tweed Ring" consisted of Tweed as leader and other corrupt men whom ruled the city. This group bought land holdings and used city money to fix roads and plumbing in the area. With the improvements they were able to sell land at high markups and pocket the