Lesson
William “Boss” Tweed and Immoderation
Founding Principles
Virtues
Guiding questions
Essential Question
- Why is greed associated with immoderation destructive to a healthy political system and civil society?
Guiding Questions
- How does moderation ensure a healthy political system and civil society?
- How do individual decisions to act with moderation or immoderation affect our society?
Learning Objectives
- Students will analyze the story of William “Boss” Tweed to explain the vice of immoderation or extremism.
- Students will apply moderation and immoderation to their own behaviors and habits.
Materials
Student Resources
- William “Boss” Tweed and Immoderation (Extremism) Narrative
- Anticipate: Moderation/Immoderation Organizer
- Primary Source Analysis: Political Cartoon
- Virtue in Action: My Moderation Log
Teacher Resources
- Analysis Questions
- Virtue in Action
- Journal Activity
- Sources for Further Reading
- Virtue Across the Curriculum
Lesson Components
Lesson plan
Key Terms
- Immoderation (extremism)
- Acting in excess or to an extreme. Lacking restraint.
- Moderation
- the avoidance of excess of extremes.
- Tenements
- Lo w-rental apartment buildings, typically rundown, whose facilities and maintenance barely meet minimum standards. A room or set of rooms tenanted as a separate dwelling, apartment; flat.
- Patronage positions
- In politics and government, a spoils system (also known as a patronage system) is a practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its supporters, friends (cronyism), and relatives (nepotism) as a reward for working toward victory.
More Information
Procedures
- The following lesson asks students to apply the virtue of moderation and identify the vice of immoderation or extremism to their own lives and to a historical example of William “Boss” Tweed.
- Students will engage with the story of William “Boss” Tweed as a warning against immoderation as they consider the question: Why is greed associated with immoderation destructive to a healthy political system and civil society?
- The main activity in this lesson requires students to read and analyze a narrative that explores how Tweed engaged in immoderation. Students may work individually, in pairs, or small groups as best fits your classroom. The analysis questions provided can be used to help students comprehend and think critically about the content. As the teacher, you can decide which questions best fit your students’ needs and time restraints.
- Additionally, the lesson includes primary source political cartoons for students to analyze how the press interpreted and reported on Tweed’s work and actions.
- Lastly, the lesson includes sources used in this lesson for further reading and suggestions for cross-curricular connections.
Standards
Related materials
This first in our new Homework Help Evidence of History series tells the story of William "Boss" Tweed. Tracing his rise to political power in post Civil War New York City, a metropolis whose population was booming from an influx of European immigrants, this video explores the question of whether Tweed was a hero, a villain, or something in between. Examine the evidence and decide for yourself.
What is the role of the press in a democratic republic? In this video, Mary and Liz explore another one of Thomas Nast’s political cartoons, “The Tammany Tiger Loose" (1871). This striking image aided in the downfall of the corrupt de facto controller of the New York City Democratic Party, William “Boss” Tweed. Knowing both the positive and negative impact that Tweed had on NYC, do you believe Nast’s depiction of Tweed was fair?
By the end of this section, you will explain the similarities and differences between the political parties during the Gilded Age.
Does democracy always foster moral success, or can the systems in place actually help those with devious intentions? To kick off our first episode of season three, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore these questions by examining the life of Boss Tweed and why the backdrop of Gilded Age New York City was a perfect setup for the corrupt politician to seize power. How did Tweed manipulate each sector of society--from the police to groups of immigrants--to control an entire city?