The Tammany Tiger Loose is a famous and important political cartoon by Thomas Nast that was originally published on November 7, 1871, not 1876, in Harper's Weekly magazine. The cartoon depicts a large, snarling tiger that is breaking free from its cage, which represents the political machine of the Tammany Hall organization in New York City. The tiger is depicted as being wild and dangerous, symbolizing the corrupt and ruthless nature of Tammany Hall. The cartoon was a scathing indictment of Tammany Hall's corrupt practices and its stranglehold on New York City politics. It helped to rally public support for reform efforts and contributed to the eventual downfall of Tammany Hall in the late 19th century.