Elbridge Gerry

[UK.USfan]

Hi Guys

I recently came across the definition of the word 'Gerrymandering' and was slightly amused by its origin.

I Googled the word and the results showed up a sartirical diagram of a CD in Mass in the shape of a Salamander!.

Anyone know more about the history behind Elbridge Gerry and  this hideous looking CD?. What part of Mass was this CD derived from and what shape is it today?


Any info would be as usual.....appreciated!


Dave.....:-)

[J. J.]

You find a good account here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbridge_Gerry

I believe this was one he approved as governor and basically is the surrounding, but not including, Boston.

[jimrtex]

I recently came across the definition of the word 'Gerrymandering' and was slightly amused by its origin.

I Googled the word and the results showed up a sartirical diagram of a CD in Mass in the shape of a Salamander!.

Anyone know more about the history behind Elbridge Gerry and  this hideous looking CD?. What part of Mass was this CD derived from and what shape is it today?

Gerry is pronounced like Gary, but gerrymander is pronounced like jerry-mander.  Gerry had a long political career, was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, a Representative in the 1st and 2nd Congresses, governor of Massachusetts, and Vice President.  The gerrymander occured at the end of his career in 1812, when he was defeated for for re-election for governor, but elected to be Vice President.  His death in 1814 created the first vacancy in the Vice Presidency.

Ellbridge Gerry

The cartoons are also famed because at least one version is attributed to Gilbert Stuart, early American artist.  His portrait of George Washington is literally reproduced in the billions, and can usually be acquired for about one dollar.


Political cartoon and description of district. (big)

Another version that shows the towns more clearly

The district was a state senate district in Essex County, which includes Cape Ann to the NE of Boston.  If you tilt the cartoons about 30 degrees counterclockwise you will match the actual geography.

In modern terms it is not so horrid, forming an upside down "L", with another district forming the interior of "L" and including Cape Ann and Gloucester.  There are certainly far worse modern CDs in Massachusetts (3 and 4 for example).


A barneymander or a frankenstein?

Much of the odd shape of the district comes from natural geographic features.  The crooked neck of the beast follows towns along the Merrimac River.  The NH-MA state line runs parallel to the river.   Some of the crooks of the back and hind legs follow the Essex-Middlesex county boundary, and the claws and tail are formed by natural headlands that still exist.

Presumably the goal was to include interior farming areas that would be more likely to vote Democrat, in an attempt to outvote the sea ports like Salem and Marblehead.