Journal Entries
NaJoPoMo #2 - Theft of the Presidency
Posted Nov 2, 2014
I suppose most of you have heard the story of the son of a former US President who decided to run for the same office. After an inconclusive election, he managed to manipulate the system and have himself sworn into office.
I am, of course, referring to the US presidential election held in 1824.
There were four major candidates for the office; William H Crawford was the official candidate of the Democrat-Republicans (who had become the only significant party after the collapse of the Federalists), Andrew Jackson - who had gained fame as the victorious general at the battle of New Orleans A87726946, John Quincy Adams - the son of the 2nd President also the sitting Secretary of State, and Henry Clay - the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Andrew Jackson received 41% of the popular vote, followed by Adams with 30%, Clay had 13% while. Crawford finished with 11%.
Under the US Constitution A525278 the President is not elected by the popular vote, but by the Electoral College, which is designed to give more power to the smaller States (this is still true today). In 1824 a total of 131 votes were required for a victory. Jackson had 99 votes and Adams was second with 84. If there is no clear winner the top three candidates are placed on a ballot in the House of Representatives who vote to select the winner. As the speaker, Henry Clay (who was fourth and thus eliminated from the ballot) was in charge of this vote and in a position that could influence the outcome.
Adams won on the first ballot with the vote of 13 states, Jackson followed with seven states and Crawford only managed four.
One of the first actions of the president-elect was to appoint Henry Clay as his Secretary of State. Jackson immediately accused the two of them of a 'Corrupt Bargain' that would become a major factor in the election of 1828 - but that is another tale.
F 
S
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Latest reply: Nov 2, 2014
The Know Nothing Party
Posted Nov 1, 2014
In 1845 a secret political party was formed in New York City with the primary goal of limiting, or at least to discourage, immigrants from entering the country. Among themselves they adopted the name of 'The Star Spangled Banner Party'. As a secret society members were instructed to tell any outsiders who asked, that they 'knew nothing'.
The society quickly grew and established lodges in most large American cities. In the east the major concern was Irish-Catholic immigrants, while in the mid-west they were more concerned with Germans. Party memberships were limited to Protestants who had been born on American soil.
By the mid 1850's the party was prepared to offer their candidates for state and federal elections. They openly declared themselves as the 'American Party' and openly opposed the Democrats, their major opposition. It was the Presidential of 1856 that split the party along the Mason Dixon Line A87791926, those in the south supported Millard Fillmore, while those in the north preferred the Republican candidate John Fremont.
Although the election went to James Buchanan, the seeds had been sown and the former 'Know Nothings' played a major role in the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.
F S
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Latest reply: Nov 1, 2014
Home, Next to the Swamp
Posted Sep 30, 2013
For anyone who has noticed the tag line in my h2g2 screen name in the last two months, my wife and I, along with our dachshund, have moved about 40 miles ( 64 km) north of our old home of the last 20+ years. For the 10 years prior to that we lived about 3 1/2 (5.6 km)miles to the south-east of the house on our sailboat.
I have now reduced my 70 minute commute to 25 minutes. We have a small cypress swamp (or at least hammock) at the end of the street, clearly visible from my computer desk as I sit here.
Here are a few photos of our new home http://www.flickr.com/photos/103710024@N02/
Hopefully I will have a little more time to contribute once we get everything settled
F S
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Latest reply: Sep 30, 2013
14 Years and Counting
Posted Apr 28, 2013
Happy Birthday h2g2!
< marvin mode > Everybody's putting up parties, I will too, but I'm sure no one will come
< /marvin mode >
F S
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Latest reply: Apr 28, 2013
Merry Christmas
Posted Dec 25, 2012
As the 
night sweeps across the Atlantic from your homes to mine, and the others beyond, let me wish y'all A573978 the best of the Christmas season, and a good year to come!
FS
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Latest reply: Dec 25, 2012
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