Locofocos was a nickname given in 1835 to radical members of the New York Democratic Party. In October 1835, New York Democrats held a meeting in Tammany Hall. Radical Democrats proposed that the party dedicate itself to a push for banking reform. Conservative party members opposed the proposal but were not strong enough to defeat it. They turned out the lights and left the hall. Members of the radical group used newly invented phosphorus friction matches, called locofocos, to light candles. They then continued the meeting. As a result, reform Democrats became known as Locofocos.
