Answer:
Most people think that political machines like Tammany Hall were bad because they were filled with corruption, favoritism, and the use of unethical and illegal means to gain and keep power. They often did things that hurt democracy and kept social and economic differences from getting better.
For example, Tammany Hall was known for using its political power to help its members and allies get rich at the expense of the public. It made sure that its candidates won elections by buying votes, intimidating voters, and stuffing ballots. It also had control over favoritism jobs, which it used to reward its supporters and keep its political power.
Even with these problems, political machines did help their constituents in some ways. They often helped people in need by giving them food, a place to live, and medical care, among other things. They also helped organize and mobilize immigrant and working-class communities, which mainstream political parties often ignored and left out.
But these benefits were often tied to being loyal to the machine and its leaders, and they were often used to get votes and support rather than because people really cared about the community's well-being. In this way, the bad things that political machines did to democracy, fairness, and the rule of law often outweighed the good things they did.