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History of the United States I / Unit 10   USH1 1365 short lesson, about 20 seconds

The Bucktails

Captions available

The idea

Van Buren's Bucktail faction in New York was named for the deer's tail its members wore, a symbol of membership in the Tammany Society.

In practice

A faction gaining power by cultivating loyalty to the will of the majority rather than to an elite family.

Where people slip

They replaced the Council of Appointments with direct elections, making thousands of jobs available to candidates with majority support.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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