What was the tweed scandal?

Answer 1

The Tweed Scandal, also known as the Tweed Ring, was a major political corruption scandal in New York City during the 1860s and early 1870s, centered around William M. Tweed, the leader of Tammany Hall. Tweed and his associates embezzled millions of dollars from the city through fraudulent contracts, inflated bills, and kickbacks, significantly enriching themselves at the expense of taxpayers. The scandal was exposed by journalists, particularly Thomas Nast, leading to public outrage and eventually the arrest and conviction of Tweed. The scandal highlighted the pervasive corruption in urban politics during that era and had lasting implications for political reform in the United States.