Myers, Gustavus. “Rise and Progress of the Gangs.” The History of Tammany Hall. New York: Boni & Liveright Inc, 1917. 128-139. Print.

            Myers analyzes Tammy Hall’s fight with political opposition to retain their stronghold on the New York public.  In 1840, a change in personnel within Tammany leads the political engine to be run from “the bottom of the social stratum”.  The immigrants seek political refuge with Tammany; the Native American Party and the Whig Party “bar them” from the enjoyment of political rights.  Tammany sets up a new department bureau to drill the immigrants and provide them with the means to become natural citizens. All of this, of course, ensures the Tammany vote.  Meanwhile, in 1844, “the foreign vote outnumbered that of the native-born citizens”.  The Whig Party is bewildered by the assistance to the naturalization of the foreigners.  Tammany further ensures the immigrant’s vote by holding “Irish, German and French meetings in the hall, where each nationality (is) addressed in its own language”.  The hold of Tammany on New York is strengthened by the immigrant’s large vote.  Mike Walsh and the “ward heelers”, known as “gangs” started to develop both for and against Tammany Hall.  Competition between Tammany, the Native American Party, and the Whig Party continues throughout the early 1840’s with wins on each side.  With the election of William F. Havemeyer for Mayor in 1845, Tammany regains another win.  Although Havemeyer is replaced by his own party in 1846, the public continues its love and hate relationship with Tammany Hall.  The public remains fooled.