Political machines organized groups that offered services like jobs, assistance to immigrants, and community improvements in exchange for political support. The machines were led by city bosses who controlled judges, jobs, and politics through networks of local precinct workers and ward bosses. Tammany Hall was the powerful Democratic political machine in New York City led by Boss Tweed in the late 1800s. Though they provided services, political machines were often corrupt, using patronage to reward supporters with government jobs and graft to illegally profit from their influence.