Feb. 20,1781 - Feb. 25,1870

 

Boston and Philadelphia had been prominent centers for the emerging "Democratic/Revolutionary" movement festering throughout the American Colonies.
 

New York City was fast becoming the center for the politics of the new United States Federal Government.
 

   This is a contemporary drawing of the first Tammany Wigwam in New York City - 1812. Originally, the Tammany Society was organized as a men's social club, where the educated, intellectuals of the region would meet to exchange thoughts and ideas among peers. "Wigwam" is derived from the group's original interest in the customs and culture of the Native Americans and initially adapted many of them into the Tammany Society's procedures and 'rituals'. The first (and only - 'in name') 'Wigwam" was located on the corner of Nassau and Frankfort Streets in downtown New York City. In reality, by 1812, The "Tammany Society" and "Tammany Wigwam" were both already usually referred to as "Tammany Hall". Aaron Burr had effectively converted the "direction" of Tammany from social, intellectual, to political for the US Presidential Election in 1800. Burr had served several terms in the New York State Assembly in the 1780's and 1790's, was the Attorney General of New York (1789-90), and a Senator from New York (1791-97). During John Adams's term as the second US President, national parties became clearly defined. Burr associated himself with Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party which was the upcoming party opposing the Federalist party which had been in control during the new government's formative years, As a key player in New York politics (the center of the new nation's government at that time), he had recognized the importance of a central political base ("machine") and the Tammany Society evolved into such and proved to be the organization behind the election of Thomas Jefferson as the third (and really first popularly elected) President of The United States. Burr, though Jefferson's strongest ally at the time, tied Jefferson in the vote of the Electoral College and accepted the Vice Presidency after 3 tie-breaker votes by the US House of Representatives, and served from 1801 until 1805.

Asa Eastwood was elected "Sachem" ('leader' - another term retained from original "Native" terminology) of Tammany Hall on May 13, 1823, a most prestigious political position in early US democratic history. He was a devout member of Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party until 1856. At 75 years of age, due to his ardent opposition to slavery, and especially its expansion, he joined the ranks of Lincoln's Republican Party, and remained until his death in 1870.