Homework Due:
For homework, read pages 600-604 and 609-611.
Also, at the bottom of this page, write an obituary for Albert Parsons. Whatever you decide to include, make sure you address whether or not he was a dangerous man.
Additional Resources:
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Topic:
Corruption in Cities during the Gilded Age
Daily Goal(s):
Understand the workings and philosophy of Tammany Hall
Lesson Plan:
Today, we’ll study one of New York City’s most famous institutions: Tammany Hall. We’ll begin class by reading together a talk/interview by George Washington Plunkitt, a Tammany boss. Plunkitt delivered the talk in 1905, reflecting on his time as a Tammany Hall politician and the idea of graft.
From there, you’ll study a series of cartoons by Thomas Nast, America’s most famous political cartoonist. In 1870-71, Nast turned his keen eye and talents to the Tweed Ring, which was running Tammany Hall. In studying the cartoons, you’ll be trying to answer this question: What was the nature of Thomas Nast’s criticisms of Tammany Hall and the Tweed Ring?
We’ll conclude with a short video on the rise and fall of Boss Tweed.
Assigned Homework:
For next class, use the George Washington Plunkett talk/interview and series of cartoons (both linked above) to answer the question: What was the nature of Thomas Nast’s criticisms against Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall? You should analyze a few of Nast’s cartoons to support your answer.
Write your answer at the bottom of the page for November 7.
haunT225 
Albert Parsons died 200 years ago on November 11, 1887. He was executed with other anarchists by being convicted of setting off a bomb and using violence that resulted in the deaths of a few police officers. He was a dangerous man who had talked of using violence to destroy the existing government and create a new one that was strictly controlled by the people for the people. Albert Parsons wanted equality for everyone and in his point of view, Dynamite makes every person equal. He had claimed to a group of protestors that they should bear arms and learn how to use and create dynamite. Even if it was not him to set off the bomb, he very well could have influenced others to use violence to get an advantage at overthrowing the government and its forces. Albert Parsons was executed for being a dangerous man and that is how it should remain.
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On this day 200 years ago, dangerous anarchist Albert Parsons was executed on the account of aiding in the setting off of a bomb in Chicago. Being the leader of the anarchist movement at this time, he and many of his followers planned to eventually “destroy” the government as it stood. During his trial he even stated that to him “Dynamite is the diffusion of power”. He believed that just like the aftermath of the use of dynamite, the destruction of the government would make the people finally equal. Although he may not have been the one to set off the bomb on this day, his dangerous influence on the people who followed him made him just as guilty.
Albert Parsons is buried in Forest Home Cemetery (originally Waldheim Cemetery). He was brought to death in the city of Chicago Illinois at the age of 39 on 11 November 1887. Parsons was a previous Confederate Soldier and had been married to his beloved wife Lucy Parsons. We would like to remember the execution of this dangerous American Socialist and the symbol he has become for the anarchist movement.
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On November 1887, the execution of a threatening anarchist known by the name of Albert Parsons took place. Albert Parsons was a dangerous man in the society. He wanted to destroy the current government to create a government totally driven by the people. In his perspective, equality should reign in every aspect, and he encouraged people to use violence to overthrow the current government. The cause of his execution was the bombardment that killed a lot of people. Therefore, he deserved to be executed, because he influenced others to use violence.
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Parsons, Albert lived through 1848 – 1887,
Beginning his adult years as a pioneer American socialist, Parsons later became an anarchist known to many as a dangerous man, a threat to the government and those around him. Although Parsons stated “We are peaceable citizens, husbands,fathers.”(Albert Parson’s Testimony) in 1879 he earlier contradicted himself, “Anarchy would strike from humanity every chain that binds it, and say to mankind: “Go forth! you are free! Have all, enjoy all!” “(Albert Parson’s Article). He may have wished for a peaceful government run by the people and only the people, however, when man is broken from every chain that binds him there is no telling what unruly actions will occur; murder, rape, suffering and confusion, no laws will undoubtedly result in chaos. Dying on November 10th, 1887 in the hand of a rope, his influential years came to a close. He is survived through his wife, Lucy Parsons and eight children.
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Albert Parsons, age 39, died on November 11, 1887 in Chicago Illinois, spouse Lucy Parsons, served in the Confederate State Army, Albert spoke at the Haymarket square May 4, 1886, he originally didn’t want to speak at the market but later changed his mind, while he was speaking he did get the crowd fired up and he did speak a little bit about violence, there were statements that he shouted “to arms” and there were statements saying he never said that at all, after he was finished talking a bomb just happened to go off and men were killed, because Albert was speaking when the bomb went off he was assumed to be guilty for the deaths of the police officers, he was brought to jail and was essentially guilty until proven innocent.
Albert Parsons was not a dangerous man. The only thing linking him to a violent history was his participation in the Confederate War, other than that Albert did not have a violent history. He did believe in anarchy and his speeches did contain violent content and ideas, but that does not make him any more violent than you or me. Albert Parsons should not be considered a violent man because he never acted on his so called violent words. Anyone could speak about wanting to stab someone, that doesn’t make them violent unless they act on what they say.
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Albert Parsons, 39
CHICAGO – Albert Richard Parsons, 39, died Friday, November 11, 1887, by the death penalty. Parsons is survived on by his wife, Lucy Parsons, and their two children. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama, Tuesday, June 20, 1848 being the youngest son of Samuel Parsons of Maine and his mother, Elizabeth (Tompkins) Parsons. For most of his life, even after both of his parents died by the time he was a young child, he was raised by his eldest brother, William Parsons in Texas. Albert a few years later in life went to live with his sister, where he then became an apprentice for a newspaper. When the time came he also served in the military on the Confederate States of America. Not long after he served he met Lucy Gonzales and in the 1870’s married her. The anarchists was survived by his wife, Lucy Parsons, his children, and his siblings. Albert Parsons was an anarchical speaker at the Haymarket Square, Tuesday, May 4, 1886. While Parsons was speaking a bomb was set off, soon giving the name for this day Haymarket Square Affair(Riot). With this bomb being set off during Albert’s speech and people having being killed there was someone who needed to be punished for this incident. He was soon taken to court and wrongly convicted for conspiracy. Simply because he was speaking of his idealistic views for the government. He believed that we should have more of a democratic government, meaning that it is run by the people for the people. By Albert speaking of his ideas and hopes for Americans with no government, he was seen as a threat to the United States. Although he was speaking at this event in history about ideas that not many people had at this time, it should not have made him an automatic threat. Just because Albert had different views on the government in the U.S., and he may have spoke about violence at one of his speeches, did not make him a guilty man. Although Albert Parsons was put to death by wrongdoing his words and ideas still live on today when we speak of equality in our country and the world.
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The great Albert Parsons, died at the young age of 39, on November 11, 1887, in the town of Chicago, he was married to a very nice lady named Lucy Waller. Parsons died in a awful way, people thinking Parsons was a “dangerous man” sentenced him to death. Not only was Albert Parsons not a dangerous man, he could have done amazing stuff for the United States, he wanted everyone to be equal in the U.S. Parsons wanted the government to be run by the people, meaning that everyone was equal and no one was treated or payed differently. The government had strong feelings against Parsons and knew they had to get rid of him, Parsons had a speech at Haymarket Square on May 4, 1886, while Parsons was having his speech, a bomb went off, Parsons was a very strong believer in the 2nd amendment and during his speech he said “to arms, to arms” the bomb went off shortly after he said those words. People blamed this bombing on him and he was sentenced to death. Without evidence that Parsons did this horrible action they had no right to kill him, but the government saw him as a threat so they had to get him out of their way. Parsons was not a dangerous man and just wanted the people to live in a world with equality.
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Chicago- Albert Parsons, 39. Parsons was executed on November 11, 1887. He was executed because the court of law decided he was guilty of a bombing that took place during one of his public speeches of anarchism. Parsons was not a dangerous man but because of these events that transpired it led to belief that he was.
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