II.

The Origins of Tammany

Tammany was founded in New York City in 1789 by William Mooney, a former soldier and a prominent anti-Federalist. It was named for a 17th-century Delaware chief known for his wisdom. Tammany was originally organized into 13 tribes, one in each of the 13 states; its officers were accorded Native American titles, such as sachem and sagamore; and its meeting places were referred to as wigwams. The national character of Tammany was relatively short-lived. In New York City, Aaron Burr gained control of the society in 1798, organizing it as a political machine that helped elect Thomas Jefferson president and Burr vice president in 1800. In 1836, the grand sachem of Tammany, Martin Van Buren, was elected president.