CITY JAT “Stone Walls Do Not a Prison Make.” “No Prison Is Big Enough to Hold the Boss.”
Based on this cartoon, what message was Nast conveying about Boss Tweed
Tweed’s time in jail did not cause him to change his ways.
Tweed did not have the resources to escape from prison
Tweed’s corruption extended into controlling law enforcement agencies.
Tweed would eventually go to all for his crimes Time left for this assessment
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer to this question is:
Tweed’s corruption extended into controlling law enforcement agencies.
Explanation:
In the cartoon “Stone Walls Do Not a Prison Make” by Thomas Nast, Boss Tweed is depicted as someone who is so powerful and corrupt that even a physical prison cannot contain him. The imagery of Tweed in jail behind stone walls is meant to suggest that his influence extends far beyond the physical constraints of imprisonment. The phrase “No Prison Is Big Enough to Hold the Boss” is a metaphor indicating that Tweed’s power and control were so extensive that even jail, a place designed to restrict freedom, could not limit his reach.
During the time of Tweed’s corruption, he was known for controlling various aspects of New York City’s government, including law enforcement. He had connections to police officers, judges, and other officials who were either directly involved in or complicit with his corrupt activities. This made it difficult for him to be prosecuted effectively, as his influence over law enforcement meant that he could manipulate the judicial process to avoid facing real consequences for his actions. Nast’s cartoon highlights how Tweed’s criminal activities were not just about the money he stole or the political power he gained, but also about the larger systemic corruption that allowed him to operate with impunity.
The cartoon suggests that no matter how many times Tweed might be imprisoned, his control over the system—especially law enforcement—would allow him to escape or continue his criminal activities without facing the full punishment he deserved. Tweed’s time in jail did not cause him to change his ways because his reach was so vast, and he had mechanisms in place to avoid facing true justice.