Final answer:
Tammany Hall was a corrupt New York City political machine led by William "Boss" Tweed that influenced politics from the 1850s to the 1930s by exchanging services for votes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tammany Hall was the name of a New York City political machine. During the Gilded Age, it was infamous for its corrupt practices under the leadership of William "Boss" Tweed. Tammany Hall was a Democratic political machine that promised to solve citizens' immediate problems in exchange for political support and votes in future elections. For instance, machine politics could expedite projects like sidewalk construction by cutting through bureaucratic red tape, a service provided in return for the citizens' votes. However, these projects often involved graft and bribery, with store owners and contractors having to give kickbacks to the bosses to secure business. Despite the corruption, Tammany Hall significantly influenced New York politics from the 1850s until the 1930s.