"Where've You Gone, General Washington?" - Participatory Election Series

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Where've You Gone, General Washington?
A participatory election series in a newly minted country without its first leader.

List of Presidents
1. John Jay (Federalist-New York) March 4th, 1789-March 4th, 1793
2. Thomas Jefferson (Republican-Virginia) March 4th, 1793-March 4th, 1805
3. George Clinton (Independent Republican/Fusion-New York) March 4th, 1805-April 20th, 1812
4. John Quincy Adams (Federalist-Massachusetts) April 20th, 1812-March 4th, 1813
5. James Monroe (Republican-Virginia) March 4th, 1813-March 4th, 1817
6. DeWitt Clinton (Fusion/National-New York) March 4th, 1817-March 4th, 1825
7. John Quincy Adams (National-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1825-March 4th, 1833
8. Henry Clay (National-Kentucky) March 4th, 1833-March 4th, 1837
9. John Quincy Adams (Union-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1837-March 4th, 1841
10. Martin Van Buren (Union-New York) March 4th, 1841-March 4th, 1849
11. Charles Francis Adams (Union-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1849-March 4th, 1853
12. Davy Crockett (Whig-Tennessee) March 4th, 1853-March 4th, 1861
13. John Parker Hale (Union-New Hampshire) March 4th, 1861-March 4th, 1865
14. Abraham Lincoln (Whig-Illinois) March 4th, 1865-March 4th, 1873
15. Samuel J. Tilden (Union-New York) March 4th, 1873-March 4th, 1881
16. Cassius M. Clay (Union-Kentucky) March 4th, 1881-Mach 4th, 1885
17. Stephen Grover Cleveland (Union-New York) March 4th, 1885-March 4th, 1889
18. Zebulon Vance (Whig-North Carolina) March 4th, 1889-March 4th, 1897
19. Ignatius Loyola Donnelly (People's Alliance-Dakota) March 4th, 1897-January 19th, 1901
20. Marion Butler (People's Alliance-North Carolina) January 19th, 1901-March 4th, 1901
21. Wharton Barker (People's Alliance-Pennsylvania) March 4th, 1901-September 14th, 1901
22. Thomas Brackett Reed (Union-Maine) September 14th, 1901-December 7th, 1902
23. Joseph Gurney Cannon (Union-Illinois) December 7th, 1902-March 4th, 1905
24. Eugene Victor Debs (People's Alliance/Farmer-Labor-Indiana) March 4th, 1905-March 4th, 1909
25. Joseph Gurney Cannon (Union-Illinois) March 4th, 1909-March 4th, 1913
26. Oscar W. Underwood (Farmer-Labor-Alabama) March 4th, 1913-March 4th, 1917
27. Elihu Root (Union-New York) March 4th, 1917-March 4th, 1921
28. John Calvin Coolidge (Union-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1921-March 4th, 1929
29. Alfred Emmanuel Smith (Bull Moose-New York) March 4th, 1929-March 4th, 1933
30. Fiorello H. LaGuardia (Worker's Party-New York) March 4th, 1933-January 20th, 1937
31. Arthur H. Vandenberg (Union/American Union-Michigan) January 20th, 1937-Present

List of Vice Presidents
1. John Adams (Federalist-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1789-March 4th, 1793
2. John Jay (Federalist-New York) March 4th, 1793-March 4th, 1801
3. Alexander Hamilton (Federalist-New York) March 4th, 1801-April 12th, 1802
Vacant: April 12th, 1802-March 4th, 1805
4. James Monroe (Republican-Virginia) March 4th, 1805-March 4th, 1809
5. John Quincy Adams (Federalist-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1809-April 20th, 1812
Vacant: April 20th, 1812-March 4th, 1813
6. Albert Gallatin (Republican-Pennsylvania) March 4th, 1813-March 4th, 1817
7. John Marshall (Federalist-Virginia) March 4th, 1817-March 4th, 1821
8. John Quincy Adams (Federalist/National-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1821-March 4th, 1825
9. William Henry Harrison (National-Ohio) March 4th, 1825-March 4th, 1829
10. Henry Clay (National-Kentucky) March 4th, 1829-March 4th, 1833
11. Daniel Webster (National-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1833-March 4th, 1837
12. Thomas Morris (Union-Ohio) March 4th, 1837-March 4th, 1841
13. Matthew C. Perry (Union-Rhode Island) March 4th, 1841-March 4th, 1845
14. Marcus Morton (Union-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1845-March 4th, 1849
15. Gerrit Smith (Union-New York) March 4th, 1849-March 4th, 1853
16. Abraham Lincoln (Whig-Illinois) March 4th, 1853-March 4th, 1857
17. Samuel Houston (Whig-Texas) March 4th, 1857-March 4th, 1861
18. Stephen H. Douglas (Whig-Illinois) March 4th, 1861-June 3rd, 1861
Vacant: June 3rd, 1861-March 4th, 1865
19. Horatio Seymour (Whig-New York) March 4th, 1865-March 4th, 1873
20. Cassius M. Clay (Union-Kentucky) March 4th, 1873-March 4th, 1881
21. Arthur Sewall (Union-Maine) March 4th, 1881-March 4th, 1885
22. Henry Adams (Union-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1885-March 4th, 1889
23. Joseph F. Smith (People's Alliance-Illinois) March 4th, 1889-March 4th, 1897
24. Henry George (People's Alliance-New York) March 4th, 1897-October 29th, 1897
Vacant: October 29th, 1897-March 4th, 1905
25. William Jennings Bryan (People's Alliance/Farmer-Labor-Nebraska) March 4th, 1905-March 4th, 1909
26. William McKinley (Union-Ohio) March 4th, 1909-March 4th, 1913
27. Hiram Johnson (Bull Moose-California) March 4th, 1913-March 4th, 1917
28. John W. Weeks (Union-Massachusetts) March 4th, 1917-March 4th, 1921
29. Warren G. Harding (Union-Ohio) March 4th, 1921-March 4th, 1925
30. Burton K. Wheeler (Worker's Party-Montana) March 4th, 1925-March 4th, 1929
31. William Edgar Borah (Bull Moose-Idaho) March 4th, 1929-March 4th, 1933
32. Matthew Mansfield Neely (Worker's Party-Virginia) March 4th, 1933-March 4th, 1937
33. William Edgar Borah (Bull Moose/American Union-Idaho) March 4th, 1937-March 4th, 1941

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1789 United States Presidential Election
With Washington's withdrawal and adamant refusal to allow himself to be anointed President in the nation's first election, it seemed the electors quickly began choosing between one of two choices: the Federalist champion John Adams, "the Sage of Quincy", and Governor George Clinton of New York who was the choice of the Anti-Federalists. However, while the first choice of the electors was split--Adams received a majority of 40 to Clinton's 37--ten Clinton electors in Pennsylvania also voted for John Jay, who had received votes from all but seven of Adams' votes. With that Jay actually received the largest amount of electors, followed by Adams who would receive only the Vice Presidency.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs John Jay (Federalist-New York) 43 electoral votes
Former Minister to Great Britain John Adams (Federalist-Massachusetts) 40 electoral votes, 51.7% of the popular vote
Governor George Clinton (Anti-Federalist-New York)37 electoral votes, 48.3% of the popular vote
Former Governor Edward Telfair (Anti-Federalist-Georgia) 13 electoral votes
Governor John Hancock (Federalist-Massachusetts) 8 electoral votes
Governor Samuel Huntington (Federalist-Connecticut) 7 electoral votes
Former Governor John Rutledge (Federalist-South Carolina) 6 electoral votes

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1792 Party Caucuses
Despite some attempts among shippers representing coastal areas of the country to nominate Treasury Secretary John Hancock, both Jay and Adams were easily renominated by the Federalists. The Republicans for their part put forward Senator Thomas Jefferson of Virginia and, after narrowly beating Samuel Adams, Governor George Clinton of New York as their nominees for President.

The 1792 United States Presidential Election
The 1792 Election would go down in history as the humiliation of President Jay. While considered popular and many seeming to concede his re-election, the well run political machine constructed between Monticello and New York City of the Republican party--its position in the opposition had given it much greater incentive to organize--that had been set up by Jefferson, Madison, Clinton, and others worked. Rhode Island, the most Republican state of New England, was just barely tipped towards Jefferson; New York Republicans, battling Jay's strength in his home state, were able to win two of their electors seats; Pennsylvania went completely for Jefferson, as did the South. Political scientists and historians would credit the Republican machine and the vicious newspaper campaign waged by them for Jay's loss rather than disapproval of specific policies. With Jefferson's surrogates trumpeting him as a Revolutionary hero--the man who'd written the Declaration, after all--Jay was instead associated with Northern banking interests and opposition to expanded voting franchises. However, the "Revolution of '92" wasn't strong enough to win the Vice Presidency for the Republicans. With the vote split between Burr and Clinton among Jefferson's electors, Jay in fact came in second place, something that had been much feared. While unhappy about the turn of events, President Jay resolved to follow the course set out in the Constitution and take his place as the nation's second in command.

Senator Thomas Jefferson (Republican-Virginia) 78 electoral votes, 59.1% of the popular vote
President John Jay (Federalist-New York) 54 electoral votes, 40.9% of the popular vote
Governor George Clinton (Republican-New York) 52 electoral votes
Vice President John Adams (Federalist-Massachusetts) 45 electoral votes
Senator Aaron Burr (Republican-New York) 35 electoral votes

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1796 Party Caucuses
In a surprise, the Federalist party nominated two New Yorkers to be their main set of candidates to dethrone Jefferson. Despite rumors that Jay wanted to retire, he was nonetheless nominated to go against Jefferson a second time. As well, Alexander Hamilton would receive the party's second nomination. The Republicans would easily renominate the successful President Jefferson for a second term, placing New York Senator Aaron Burr alongside him.

The 1796 United States Presidential Election
Despite Aaron Burr receiving the official second endorsement by the Republicans, Governor Samuel Adams who'd been put forward as an alternate second Republican vote to avoid Burr tying with Jefferson, would receive a burst of momentum as electors began selection across the country. Nevertheless, it wouldn't be enough to counter Federalist strength, which barely gave Jay the Vice Presidency for a second time.

President Thomas Jefferson (Republican-Virginia) 71 electoral votes, 51.9% of the popular vote
Vice President John Jay (Federalist-New York) 67 electoral votes, 47.9% of the popular vote
Governor Samuel Adams (Republican-Massachusetts) 66 electoral votes
Governor Alexander Hamilton (Federalist-New York) 46 electoral votes
Senator Oliver Ellsworth (Federalist-Connecticut) 21 electoral votes
Senator Aaron Burr (Republican-New York) 5 electoral votes

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1800 Party Caucuses
A weary Thomas Jefferson, having headed the nation for eight years, nonetheless consented to be nominated a third time by the Republican Party. Despite losses in 1798 and 1799 elections for Congress, the party was still strong and was hoping that their champion could lead them to another term in power. The second nomination went to Samuel Adams. Despite having retired in 1797 from the Governorship, his performance four years ago and the enthusiasm felt for him among the caucus-goers propelled him to the general election. It was said that a number were even more enthusiastic for Adams than they were for the incumbent Jefferson. The Federalists as well coronated their champion. Hamilton's selection, despite some voters for Jay, was more or less a foregone conclusion. In a surprise, the semi-retired former Vice President Adams would become the second choice of the caucus, making the race for second between cousins.

The 1800 United States Presidential Election
While Jefferson's party had been expecting a coronation for "the Republican king", and Federalists were hoping for an utter repudiation of the Jeffersonian agenda, the nation was unprepared for what would be the most vicious, and arguably the closest, presidential race in the nation's short history. Historians argue that Hamilton would have won had the Federalists maintained unity. However, splitting between their three candidates resulted in none of them being able to overcome Jefferson's ensured electoral strength. Hamilton was nonetheless able to bring the incumbent to a tie. However, with the House solidly Republican, he found himself defeated and Jefferson taking a third term through an ironically un-democratic process. With Jefferson's re-election, Hamilton would be shuttled to the Vice Presidency, a position he would find himself resigning in little over a year after his inauguration.

President Thomas Jefferson (Republican-Virginia) 58 electoral votes, 51.3% of the popular vote
Senator Alexander Hamilton (Federalist-New York) 58 electoral votes, 48.7% of the popular vote
Former Vice President John Adams (Federalist-Massachusetts) 55 electoral votes
Senator Rufus King (Federalist-New York) 47 electoral votes
Former Governor Samuel Adams (Republican-Massachusetts) 43 electoral votes
Former Senator Aaron Burr (Republican-New York) 15 electoral votes

The 1800 U.S. House Election for President

President Thomas Jefferson (Republican-Virginia) 9 states
Senator Alexander Hamilton (Federalist-New York) 7 states

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1804 Party Caucuses
With the Republican champion, three-term President Jefferson, retiring after having led the nation the past twelve years, the party was left looking for a leader. While there were several nominations, it came to a close victory by Secretary of State James Madison over Governor George Clinton. The New York Governor would not be silent though. The Federalists meanwhile would have a similar showdown between the two parties' New York leaders. Hamilton, itching for another shot at the presidency with Jefferson's exit from the national stage, would be denied what he considered his right when a group of more liberal Federalists managed to cajole the caucus to support Senator Rufus King.

The 1804 United States Presidential Election
Following reform of the electoral system, the nation was expecting a fairly straightforward election, especially when newspapers reported that the Federalists would be running Rufus King against James Madison, representing the debate over Jefferson's legacy. However, things would not go nearly as planned. George Clinton, a party founder who had long been denied the presidency and even the nomination of the Republicans, saw to it that a movement began among the New York State Senate to appoint electors voting for him and James Monroe for President and Vice President respectively. News escaped of the Clinton movement and other Northern Republicans in state legislatures began signing on. Clinton even found his name appearing on the ballot in several states that utilized the popular vote system. With Federalists weak even in the North, Clinton Republicans took the opportunity, handing him electors of several Federalist-leaning and tossup states. In the South, meanwhile, Southern Federalists were uncomfortable with statements King had made on the subject of slavery and not looking forward to "another four years of Jefferson", chose King as the lesser of three evils. With momentum building over the course of the election between spring of 1804 and February of 1805, Clinton managed to secure both an electoral majority and a very strong popular plurality. Madison, despite taking a pathetic amount of the popular vote, found his bedrock in the South and West and thus surpassed King in the electoral vote.

Governor George Clinton (Independent Republican-New York)/U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom James Monroe (Republican-Virginia) 91 electoral votes, 46.9% of the popular vote
Secretary of State James Madison (Republican-Virginia)/Former Senator Aaron Burr (Republican-New York) 51 electoral votes, 18.8% of the popular vote
Senator Rufus King (Federalist-New York)/Senator John Marshall (Federalist-Virginia) 34 electoral votes, 34.4% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Bump. New maps in the works and all that. No guarantee on delivery time, but the prototypes are in existence and will hopefully be expanded upon soon enough.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1808 Party Caucuses
As the parties convened on separate dates, there was little idea as to how united the response of the nation would be. The popular President George Clinton, nominated by an independent "Fusion" caucus, would find himself as well nominated by his former party, the Republicans, narrowly over his own Vice President James Monroe, as well as by the Federalists. To some, this would mark a short-lived "Era of Good Feelings" and national unity in favor of the President who had secured peace where others would have found war. The main competition would instead be for the Vice Presidency, as the three caucuses had nominated three different men for the title. The independents had nominated Clinton ally in the Senate Stephen Bradley, the Federalists John Quincy Adams, and the Republicans the incumbent Vice President James Monroe.

The 1808 United States Presidential Election
With the only competition being for the Vice Presidency, President Clinton soared to re-election, opposed only by a few dissident votes for unpledged Federalist electors. However, while the election might have been a referendum on Clinton's popularity, the same did not hold true for his budding new party. Instead of electing Bradley Vice President, Federalists triumphed with the election of Adams, the second of his family to attain the Vice Presidency. Such a victory was credited to Republican fatigue, lack of organization on part of the independents, and some frantic electoral trading that took place, where-in it was rationalized that the Federalists had handed Clinton the Presidency, thus they deserved their man take the second spot. However, by-and-large, it is believed that it was due to Adams' independent record as a Federalist that gave him wide appeal to parts of the North, while revitalized Southern Federalists managed to secure him the votes of a few coastal states as well.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1812 Party Caucuses
President Clinton, beloved by his nation, would pass away on April 20th, 1812, leaving the nation for a short while in the hands of John Quincy Adams, the first Federalist to hold the office since John Jay in 1793. With mere weeks before the caucuses, the now more formed Fusion party as well as his own Federalists would both nominate the incumbent Adams. However, as with four years ago, these two parties nominated different Vice Presidents. For the Fusion party, DeWitt Clinton, the President's nephew, caucus runner-up, and the popular Mayor of New York City was the obvious choice. Meanwhile, the Federalists nominated Rufus King, their failed nominee from eight years ago. The Republicans meanwhile refused to even entertain draft notions. Instead, in a three-way battle with Nathaniel Macon and Albert Gallatin, former Vice President James Monroe was made the Republican Presidential nominee. To appeal to the North and hearken back to the days of Jefferson, former Treasury Secretary Gallatin was nominated for Vice President.

The 1812 United States Presidential Election
In some ways, the 1812 election would be a re-match of the Vice Presidential match-up of 1808. John Quincy Adams and James Monroe, then the VP nominees for their parties, had been two of the three candidates in the running to become the nation's second most powerful man. Then, it was Adams who triumphed. However, Monroe, with a revitalized Republican coalition, was able to beat back his rival who had the power of two parties behind him. Monroe took all of the South and West as well as the crucial state of Pennsylvania to narrowly deliver him the election.

Former Vice President James Monroe (Republican-Virginia)/Former Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (Republican-Pennsylvania) 115 electoral votes, 51.1% of the popular vote
President John Quincy Adams (Federalist-Massachusetts)/Mayor DeWitt Clinton (Fusion-New York), U.S. Minister to Great Britain Rufus King (Federalist-New York) 103 electoral votes, 48.9% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1816 Party Caucuses
With a seemingly popular President Monroe, who over the past four years, had worked to build consensus among the three parties while at the same time maintaining his Republican principles, it was expected that the candidates running in the caucus were there largely hoping for a strong showing so as to gain the Vice Presidency or a cabinet post. However, few properly judged the sway that Andrew Jackson would have over the voters. Soon, President Monroe found his own party betraying him as Jackson, a hero of the Indian Wars to the West and former Tennessee Senator, was nominated with runners-up being William H. Crawford and Henry Clay. Frustrated, the aging President Monroe would have to watch the general election play out without his influence. Nevertheless, there was hope, in his mind, of a comeback in 1820, which he vowed would be his final year. Meanwhile, at the scarcely attended Federalist Caucus, John Quincy Adams was nominated against the unenthusiastic supporters of former Maryland Senator Robert Goodloe Harper. Had he received the Fusion party's nomination as well, he would have been looking at an easy victory. However, at the closely contested Fusion Party caucus, DeWitt Clinton's men triumphed over the Adams/"Quasi-Federalist" faction.

The 1816 United States Presidential Election
With the meeting of two dynamic and well known national and political personalities such as Adams and Jackson, few expected the Fusion party to be a factor in the race. However, between the crusty and alienating New Englander Adams and the wild, populist Jackson, to many voters in the geographic middle of the nation, DeWitt Clinton's campaign, run much less publicly than the newspaper wars between Adams and Jackson, managed to garner a strong plurality of the vote--nearly 40%. His victories would come in large, heavily populated states such as New York and Pennsylvania, and branch out to reach Vermont in New England and Ohio in the West. However, he would be far, far from a majority in the electoral vote, and with that, the election would continue. John Marshall, however, was easily elected as Vice President thanks to the combined total of the Adams' and Clinton's votes.

The 1816 U.S. House Election for President, Round 1
With nobody able to garner a majority of the electoral vote, the election would go the the House of Representatives, the first time for such a thing to happen since the House Election of 1800 and the subsequent amendment to the process.

The 1816 U.S. House Election for President, Round 2
After weeks of stalemate, John Quincy Adams finally backed down and endorsed Clinton in order to bring down Jackson. "A military chieftain is not the proper man to lead this nation," the  4th President conceded as he instructed his supporters to vote for Clinton. With that, Jackson's chances were decimated as the Fusion nominee took the vast majority of states in the final round of voting.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Bump.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1820 Party Caucuses
The popular President DeWitt Clinton was resoundingly nominated by his own party's caucus without opposition. For Vice President, the Fusion Party nominated one-term Congressman Thomas Metcalfe of Kentucky, an action which they hoped would grant them support in the West and Upper South. Clinton's perceived-as-likely re-election was aided when the Federalists, looking at their own dismal prospects for the race, endorsed him with their own John Quincy Adams for Vice President. It was hoped that Clinton might retire four or eight years down the road and allow the Federalists to finally take power once more. The Republicans, however, were not so willing to surrender to the President's popularity. Instead, Governor William Clark of Illinois, using strength from some of Jackson's old supporters as well as swaying a number of Northern and Western Congressman in his favor, was able to take the nomination. Since his days as part of the Corps of Discovery, Clark had held several military and political positions on the frontier, most recently being elected the first Governor of Illinois after leading the territory for a few years.

The 1820 United States Presidential Election
Clinton, running on a popular administration and with the force of two parties behind him, would easily win re-election against William Clark. However, Clark managed to build on the paltry support Jackson had received four years later, taking the vast majority of the South as well as Illinois and Indiana. The General vowed that 1820 would be far from his last race. In the Vice Presidential race, the Fusion nominee Metcalfe would ironically come in third as the vast amount of Clinton's support came from the Fusion/Federalist ticket. Combined with the strength of Federalist electors, Adams was once again elected Vice President on a ticket with a Clinton. The joint ticket would result in the 1821-1822 merger of the Federalist and Fusion parties into the National Party, which would see its national debut in the 1824 Presidential election.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1824 Party Caucuses
The National Party held its first successful caucus in 1824. While several had speculated on the possibility of a third term for DeWitt Clinton, with many of his supporters calling on him to replicate the feat that only Jefferson had been able to do, Clinton was non-committal and left the duties of the campaign to his surrogates. However, with several Federalists added to the ranks of what had been the Fusion party, and with Adams' popularity among the party at a high, he soon rose to the forefront of candidates at the caucus. However, Adams' greatest opponent was not, in fact, President Clinton, but Speaker of the House Henry Clay. Head of the nation's legislative branch for several years now, Clay had made his name first in opposition to the first Clinton's foreign policies, then in support of the second's domestic policies. A former Republican, with him Clay had brought several Western members to the party. With Clinton looking more and more at retirement, the Adams men and the Clay men faced the possibility of a duel until, on a narrow vote, Vice President Adams succeeded.

The Republicans faced a verdict much less in question as Senator Martin Van Buren, the party's anti-Clinton organizer in New York and an accomplished local politician, rode to victory on the backs of several Northern voters while candidates of the South and West such as Clark, Jackson, and Calhoun lagged behind.

The 1824 Presidential Election
The 1824 contest for the presidency would be one of the most vicious since the Jay-Jefferson races of the last century. Charges of corrupt were leveled against Van Buren for his time commanding the Regency in New York, as well as ironic claims of elitism coming from Adams' surrogates. Meanwhile, Adams was parodies as a cantankerous New England Federalist, wanting a lavish and despotic government. Adams supporters bore oak staves to symbolize that they stood with the Vice President while Van Buren's men wore deer tails in their hats. With tales ranging from seedy international intrigue during Adams' days at State to Van Buren's association with Aaron Burr, 1824 was the dirtiest campaign the nation had seen in two decades. However, Adams' strength in the North combined with his ability to wrest much of the West from Van Buren resulted in the first victory for the National Party. John Quincy Adams had at last returned to the White House.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1828 Party Caucuses
President Adams was easily re-nominated by the Nationals despite a small contingent that were pushing for Secretary of State Henry Clay. However, Clay's enthusiastic supporters were able to sway the Vice Presidential ballot away from William Henry Harrison, giving Clay second spot on the ticket. In the aftermath of the election, Harrison would be made Secretary of War as a consolation prize. The Republicans easily renominated Van Buren, who prevailed over representatives in favor of William Clark and Andrew Jackson, respectively. In an effort to appeal to New England and the North in general, Van Buren would be paired with fellow Northeasterner Senator Levi Woodbury of New Hampshire.

The 1828 United States Presidential Election
While Republicans were hoping for an enthusiastic rematch against Adams, a chance to make good with a solid strategy of bringing the North back into their coalition and appealing to the West, they received nothing of the sort. Instead, Van Buren and his surrogates were easily defeated in one of the most decisive political victories in the nation's history. Adams swept New England, the West, and the Upper South, leaving "the Little Magician" with only South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi to comfort him. Nationalism, industry, and strength abroad were riding high on election day, giving President Adams a second term.

President John Quincy Adams (National-Massachusetts)/Secretary of State Henry Clay (National-Kentucky) 242 electoral votes, 65% of the popular vote
Senator Martin Van Buren (Republican-New York)/Senator Levi Woodbury (Republican-New Hampshire) 19 electoral votes, 35% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1832 Party Conventions
It would be the Anti-Masonic Party that began the political tradition of conventions in 1831. Instead of a congressional nominating caucus, what occurred was a gathering of delegates--party members and leaders--from across the country to select a nominee. Secretary of State Richard Rush, though he would see failure at winning the National nomination time and again, found eager supporters among the Anti-Masonic ranks, prepared to challenge the Nationals' presumptive nominee, Henry Clay. He would be nominated with fellow Adams adminsitration member former Attorney General William Wirt as his running mate. Following that, Adams would hand off the reins of power to Clay at the very first National Party Convention. Hoping to shore up New England, Daniel Webster was made the National Vice Presidential nominee. While the Nationals were able to see a peaceful transition from Adams to Clay, the Republicans were almost entirely destroyed by factional infighting. Coming off the wake of the Nullification Crisis, Southern and pro-states rights delegates took over the convention, nominating their hero, John C. Calhoun, for President. Northern and "Unionist" delegates walked out of the first DNC, holding their own in Boston, Massachusetts where convention runner-up economist Henry Lee was nominated for President. However, the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Silas Wright, would be retained by the "Union Republicans" in order to make the case for legitimacy, ensure continuity with the party as a whole, and shore up appeal in New York State.

The 1832 United States Presidential Election
While a unified opposition, based on the principles of unionism, a lower tariff, and maybe some anti-masonry, might have prevailed over Clay, the Great Compromiser's opponents were not so blessed. Instead, the main competition to the Nationals was rendered in half, leading to an utter collapse across the country. Ironically, however, the Anti-Masonic Party ended up taking the majority of the otherwise National-supporting vote in New England, making Adams' home region Clay's weakest in the election. All of New England, bar Vermont, would go for Lee while Richard Rush would win Vermont's electoral votes. Nevertheless, Clay triumphed with a broad coalition of the West, the Upper South, parts of the Deep South, and the Mid-Atlantic states. With the vast middle of the country in support of the Kentuckian, he would be elected President with a plurality of the popular vote, continuing the decade of National dominance.

Vice President Henry Clay (National-Kentucky)/Senator Daniel Webster (National-Massachusetts) 178 electoral votes, 44.1% of the popular vote
Mr. Henry Lee (Republican-Massachusetts)/Governor Silas Wright (Republican-New York) 85 electoral votes, 29.4% of the popular vote
Senator John C. Calhoun (Republican-South Carolina)/Governor Silas Wright (Republican-New York) 18 electoral votes, 17.6% of the popular vote
Secretary of State Richard Rush (Anti-Masonic-Pennsylvania)/Former Attorney General William Wirt (Anti-Masonic-Maryland) 7 electoral votes, 8.8% of the popular vote

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

bump

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1836 Party Conventions
President Henry Clay was easily renominated by the Nationals in what they hoped would be another easy cruise towards victory. Nevertheless, Clay's single term had ignited great controversy. His ability to pass his agenda had, instead of success, created a severe deficit in political capital. Meanwhile, different sections of the country found themselves in rebellion against Clay's calls for a "national" policy. His willingness to compromise on matters of slavery was endearing neither to the North and the South. In this context, the Republicans, Anti-Masons, and the newly formed "Union Republicans" proceeded to nominate the men they hoped could unseat "King Henry I". John Tyler, a prominent and vocal opponent of Clay in the Senate, was nominated by the Republicans on a platform endorsing nullification, expansionism, lower tariffs, and not-so-subtly endorsing the advancement of the institution of slavery. With the now near-wholly Southern Republican party failing to heed the words of the few remaining Northern delegates, the "Union Republicans" convened.

The Union Republican party had been formed from the bare bones of the movement to nominate Henry Lee for the presidency in 1832. Based on that, a group of anti-nullification Republicans formed a loose coalition with northern Nationals, as well as a few small groups of abolitionists. The platform would be muddled, but would largely reflect the ideals of classical liberalism. Nevertheless, in a field comprised of several prominent Nationals and Republicans, John Quincy Adams was nominated. Despite failing to agree with the Union Republicans on a host of economic issues, his status as a former President and his popularity in New England where the party was largely rooted helped him see victory over his opponents. It would largely be the party's newer recruits--Nationals, abolitionists--that were able to push him to victory. In order to appeal to Republicans and Westerners, Senator Thomas Morris of Ohio was nominated for Vice President. It must be noted that, at this time, neither of the two nominees were members of the party. It would only be in the aftermath of the election that partisan lines were more clearly drawn.

At last, the Anti-Masonic party would nominate party boss Thurlow Weed of New York for President and Pennsylvania Governor Joseph Ritner for Vice President.

The 1836 United States Presidential Election
With the coalition that had seen Clay's victory four years earlier falling to pieces, it would be John Quincy Adams that profited. While he had served alongside Clay in his own administration, he did not like the man. Clay had long been a rival, and as the years had gone on, a representative of over-reaching ambition as well as an over-eager willingness to compromise on the issue of slavery. "The man has sold his soul to the legislature, and in doing so has pleased neither his soul nor the legislature." With the newly minted party Adams found himself leading sending surrogates across the West and consolidating its power in the Northeast, a broad and large coalition was forged in the free states. Nevertheless, it was not enough to take a majority. Instead, the election would have to be sent to the House of Representatives.

Former President John Quincy Adams (National/Union Republican-Massachusetts)/Senator Thomas Morris (Republican/Union Republican-Ohio) 138 electoral votes, 32.6% of the popular vote
President Henry Clay (National-Kentucky)/Vice President Daniel Webster (National-Massachusetts) 108 electoral votes, 27.9% of the popular vote
Senator John Tyler (Republican-Virginia)/Senator Hugh Lawson White (Republican-Tennessee) 48 electoral votes, 25.6% of the popular vote
Former NY State Assemblyman Thurlow Weed (Anti-Masonic-New York)/Governor Joseph Ritner (Anti-Masonic-Pennsylvania) 48 electoral votes, 14% of the popular vote

The 1836 U.S. House Vote for President, Round 1
In the first round of voting, the House would be deadlocked, as no candidate reached a majority. However, the Senate vote yielded a positive result for the Union Republicans as Thomas Morris was narrowly elected over Daniel Webster. Ironically, it would be the South that put Morris over the edge, as they at least sympathized with Morris' economic stances while Webster was despised by most outside New England.

Former President John Quincy Adams (National/Union Republican-Massachusetts) 10 states
Senator John Tyler (Republican-Virginia) 7 states
President Henry Clay (National-Kentucky) 5 states

The 1836 U.S. House vote for President, Round 2
Winning only five states in the first round and with dim prospects, Henry Clay at last withdrew his name from balloting. Nevertheless, unhappy to see Adams ruin his chances at a second term, Clay refused to endorse a particular candidate. Adams would go on to win, narrowly, against Tyler, carrying every free state as well as Delaware, which had a long history of supporting Adams for the presidency going back to 1812. With that, it would Adams' third time winning a presidential race, giving him a total of four terms in office. Upon March 4th, 1841, he would be as of then the longest serving president in United States history. But it would be a long four years that would cement Adams in that spot.

Former President John Quincy Adams (National/Union Republican-Massachusetts) 14 states
Senator John Tyler (Republican-Virginia) 12 states

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The War of Secession
Adams' election by the House with the support of only northern states had pushed sectional tensions to their tipping point. While Adams had already made his name as enemy of the South enough in his "third" term, his post-presidency had alienated Southern Republicans even more. Becoming an outspoken opponent of slavery upon leaving office, even defending slaves in court, the South was more than a little uneasy with him assuming power a third time. The fact that Adams had been elected by the House without winning a majority of the electoral or popular vote was the last straw for the South. Even as the lower chamber was deadlocked after the first round of voting, the country was dividing. While President Henry Clay would make sure to mobilize federal troops against attempts at secession, Southern governors made sure to keep as many state troops, as well as state militias in line. When the election of Adams was officially announced, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, and Arkansas all passed bills of secession.

On March 4th, 1837, power officially changed hands from Clay back to Adams. While the election had divided them, secession had united them. While Clay had attempted to compromise with the loose Confederation of American States to bring them back into the folds, he was prepared to use force, and both Adams and Clay intended to reuinte the country. Nevertheless, it would be Adams who was prepared to use the strong arm of the federal government to take them back. Soon, however, Georgia, Louisiana, and even Tennessee broke ties with the union in solidarity with their regional brethren. The next four years would the hardest in the short nation's history. Nevertheless, it was thanks to Adams' tireless resolve, even against domestic political enemies that sought either compromise or to allow the nation to sink into dissolution, that would see him through.

By now, the war is nearly won, having made heroes of such famed generals as Winfield Scott and William Henry Harrison. The famed General Zachary Taylor who led CAS forces, was hung in February, 1840, before a makeshift military tribunal in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Now, the federal government is busy chasing bands of Southern militias throughout the Louisiana bayous and Appalachian Mountains.

The 1840 Party Conventions
In an upset, Martin Van Buren would be narrowly nominated over General Winfield Scott to win the Union Party nomination, a victory for the party's liberals. The Nationals meanwhile would put their best foot forward and renominate Henry Clay, likely the only man that could even hope for a National victory. The Republicans, meanwhile, were in a political free-fall and nominated "doughface" Franklin Pierce. In order to appease party unionists, Franics Preston Blair was nominated for Vice President.

The 1840 United States Presidential Election
In a resounding referendum on support for the war effort and the Adams administration, Martin Van Buren was elected in a landslide over his two opponents, winning all but three states and with a 15 point difference in the popular vote between he and his nearest opponent. Henry Clay, once a popular American statesman, was reduced to taking majorities in only Kentucky and Maryland, winning a plurality in Delaware which had been one of Pierce's best states. And as for Pierce? The Republicans were decimated by the Senator's perceived weakness on the war issues, as well as his status as a "doughface". This would be the last election the once-proud party of Jefferson ran a candidate in, and its last champions would either retire from politics altogether, or fold into the National party.

Secretary of State Martin Van Buren (Union-New York)/Commodore Matthew C. Perry (Union-Rhode Island) 172 electoral votes, 55% of the  popular vote
Former President Henry Clay (National-Kentucky)/Senator John P. Kennedy (National-Maryland) 28 electoral votes, 40% of the popular vote
Senator Franklin Pierce (Republican-New Hampshire)/Mr. Francis Preston Blair, Sr. (Republican-Kentucky) 0 electoral votes, 5% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Union and Liberty
With the final crushing of the last Southern forces in 1845, the union was restored. In the formerly rebellious states, slavery became de facto illegal, with the slaves of several prominent planters freed and granted the divided lands of their treasonous masters. With a tide of abolitionism growing throughout the nation, slavery soon found itself out of popular favor. The Van Buren administration and radicals in Congress would use the occasion of victory to introduce the 13th and 14th amendments. The 13th Amendment would make all sons and daughters of slaves born on or after January 1st, 1850 free, and declare all slaves freed by January 1st, 1870. The 14th Amendment, meanwhile, would guarantee all free males equal rights under the Constitution.

The 1844 Party Conventions
The Nationals, bolstered by the ranks of former Republicans, convened with optimism. However, with their icon, Henry Clay, permanently retired after his landslide loss in 1840, they had little in the way of a nominee. Instead, 1840 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Francis Preston Blair, Sr., a political adviser and newspaper publisher, would be nominated on a platform upholding the recent amendments to the Constitution, calling for a withdrawal of military forces in the South and restoration of democracy there, internal improvements, higher tariffs, and restrictions on immigration. The Union Party, meanwhile, would nominate Van Buren over challenger James G. Birney, who represented the radical wing.

The 1844 United States Presidential Election
While the Nationals, once the unquestionably predominant party in the land, had left their convention optimistic, as the race got underway, it soon became apparent that, outside the border states, they were doomed. Without Henry Clay leading them, the last vestiges of the party collapsed. Since their acceptance of a whole host of former Republican politicians, the party, already referred to as one of out-of-touch aristocrats and the like, became associated with politically "castrated" former Southern planters. With the Union party taking immigrants, industrialists, veterans, and the like, there was little room to go. Meanwhile, the expansionist vote, now revitalized with a new sense of post-war nationalism, would go to another man. The radical and independent campaign of religious leader Joseph Smith, Jr., running on a platform of annexation of Oregon and recognition of the rights of his religious "flock", would pick up heavily in the West. Not only had the ranks of the Church of Latter Day Saints grown considerably since Smith's earliest days, but they were situated alongisde frontiersman and pioneers in the nation's North-Western states. It would be here where Smith picked up msot of his political support. The preacher and Mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, would claim pluralities in Missouri, Indiana, and even Ohio, while winning majorities in Michigan, his birth state Vermont, and his home state. The Nationals, like their predecessors the Federalists, the Fusionists, and the Republicans, were politically dead. Following the 1844 election, despite Van Buren garnering only a narrow majority of the popular vote, Union surrogates claimed the nation had entered an "Era of Good Feelings".

President Martin Van Buren (Union-New York)/Governor Marcus Morton (Union-Massachusetts) 213 electoral votes, 51.1% of the popular vote
Mayor Joseph Smith, Jr. (Independent-Illinois)/First Counselor of the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints Sidney Rigdon (Independent-Missouri) 62 electoral votes, 37.8% of the popular vote
Mr. Francis Preston Blair, Sr. (National-Kentucky)/Congressman Millard Fillmore (National-New York) 0 electoral votes, 11.1% of the popular vote

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Will Smith's increased popularity here cause the Mormon capital to stay in Nauvoo instead of Salt Lake City?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Will Smith's increased popularity here cause the Mormon capital to stay in Nauvoo instead of Salt Lake City?

Good idea. We shall see. Illinois-Missouri, the land of the Mormons!

[Enderman]

Bump for Cathcon

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1848 Party Conventions
The Union Convention proved a mess. Despite Van Buren being the two-term incumbent, a vast chunk of the party was unwilling to see him nominated a third time. Not only had he failed to maintain popular support for the party following his landslide victory eight years ago, he had refused to address the issue of Westward expansion, and his free trade ideology was in opposition to Eastern business interests. With that, numerous ballots would have to be taken before a nominee was reached. The Manifest Party, the newly founded political vehicle of Joseph Smith, would have a much easier time finding a nominee, as Smith was their only contender. George T. Curtis, a former assistant to former Vice President Webster and a Massachusetts state legislator, was chosen for Vice President in order to appeal to New Englanders and conservatives. Curtis' writings in defense of the "Mormons" had won him favor with the small party. As well, the Redeemer Party, a voice of Southern and anti-federalist interests, would nominate Andrew Jackson Donelson with little opposition.


The 1848 Union Party Convention, Round 2
Following poor results, several of the candidates for the Union nomination dropped out, leaving only Van Buren, Scott, and Adams. Despite Van Buren's incumbency, the party was looking for a change. With Adams representing not only his father's legacy, but as well a willingness to consider expansion--something that would increase his electability--he proved to be the party's choice, triumphing over President Van Buren and the war hero Scott. "Radical Unionist" Gerrit Smith was chosen for Vice President.

The 1848 United States Presidential Election
It would come to be said that 1840 was the height of the Union Party's strength. With full support for the war effort behind it, Martin Van Buren had cruised to easy victory over a split opposition. In 1844, the same man would win only a bare majority over Joseph Smith and Francis Preston Blair, Sr. However, by 1848, it appeared the party's dominance was on the wane. Even with party stalwart Charles Francis Adams being as popular as he was with the party at-large, the nation was looking for a change. While Union campaign strategists saw both Smith and Donelson as particularly weak contenders, their combined strength would be enough to keep Adams to only a plurality. With the Upper South wanting a change in its favor and an end to the massive presence of soldiers on their borders, and with the sparsely populated Western states agitating heavily for expansion, a simple rerun of the last four years was not enough for a majority of the country. It didn't help that radical Gerrit Smith had been nominated for Vice President. Nevertheless, with Adams reaching out to moderate expansionists, and having heavy Eastern backing, he won an electoral majority and presided over another four years of Union party dominance.

Senator Charles Francis Adams (Union-Massachusetts)/Congressman Gerrit Smith (Union-New York) 167 electoral votes, 43.2% of the popular vote
Mayor Joseph Smith (Manifest-Illinois)/Former Member of the MA House of Representatives George T. Curtis (Manifest-Massachusetts) 63 electoral votes, 34.1% of the popular vote
Congressman Andrew Jackson Donelson (Redeemer-Tennessee)/Governor Garrett Davis (Redeemer-Kentucky) 56 electoral votes, 22.7% of the popular vote

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The Way of the Whigs
Coming into office, President Adams was determined to set a moderate course between the radicals in his own party--anti-expansionist, militant on Reconstruction--and the expansionists and "redeemers" in the other parties. With the military budget having vastly expanded since 1836 and Adams' Eastern backers in support of a more fiscally sound budget so as to stabilize currency, Adams resisted calls to formally annex California and Texas, calling it "expensive and frivolous expansionism". Nevertheless, willing to see the United States expand to the West Coast of the continent, he negotiated America's adoption of the Southern half of the Oregon Territory from Great Britain in what was dubbed the "Compromise of 1850". With land speculators and railroad investors expecting him to sign the Douglas Railway Act following the Compromise, money was poured into those two areas, with some going so far as to map out their own potential routes for the rail to follow. Nevertheless, unwilling to yield, the fiscally conservative President Adams vetoed the Act, economically devastating much of the country. It didn't help that his tariff increases in 1849 and 1850 had caused prices to rise to levels the newly impoverished country couldn't afford. Wanting a new way forward, both into the West and economically, the time was ripe for a new party.

Enter Thomas Hart Benton. An aging titan of the Senate who had authored several homestead acts during his tenure and was seen by many as the "father" of Manifest Destiny", he had long been dissatisfied with the country's leadership. Originally a Republican, then a National, he had seen those two parties fall by the wayside in response to the Union's post-war domination of the country. Seeking re-election as an independent in the 1840's, he had won. Nevertheless, he felt it was high time that he took matters into his own hands. Following Adams' stalwart refusal to annex California and Texas in 1849, the Whig Party was formed in 1850. Founded primarily on the principles of expansionism, its economic platform would vary geographically, though its sympathies seemed to lie on the agrarian side.

The 1852 Party Conventions
Despite Adams' tumultuous first term, he faced little opposition at his own convention. The most notable example was the meager showing of "liberal" candidate Senator John Parker Hale of New Hampshire who was to Adams' left on tariffs. The Manifest unanimously nominated Joseph Smith, once more, for President. Smith in private vowed that this would be his final candidacy. For Vice President, his former right-hand man in heading the church, Iowa Congressman Brigham young was nominated. The Whig Convention would be the one to watch, however. Despite Benton's founding of the party and the respect he enjoyed universally, he was seen as far too old to be nominated for President, and all other factions promised him the spot of Secretary of State should he win. As it turned out, former Tennessee Congressman Davy Crockett would garner a majority of delegates. Crockett had been somewhat removed from domestic politics for some time, moving to Texas in 1836, dissatisfied with the election of John Quincy Adams. It would be in Texas where he rose in prominence as a military and political figure, winning election to its legislature following winning several well known skirmishes against Santa Anna's forces. It would only be in 1847, after over a decade away, that Crockett returned, determined to lobby for Texas' admittance to the U.S.A. Despite Texas' status as a former CAS ally, Crockett and other famous Texans including Sam Houston had stood against such a move, and were determined to redeem their country. However, Crockett would be met with disappointment, both by Van Buren and then by Adams, who both refused to annex Texas as well as California. It would be Crockett and his allies that circulated the now-commonly held theory that the Union party refused to expand Westward for fear that it would weaken their political strength, which was largely in the East. This of course ignored that the Union party at its birth had been quite strong in the Mid- and North-West. Nevertheless, having failed as a lobbyist, Crockett would take up more direct political action, joining Benton's Whig Party and eventually being nominated by it for President. The Vice Presidential nomination would go to, in a surprise, one-term Congressman Abraham Lincoln of Illinois. Lincoln was no strong voice for a push Westward, but nevertheless embodied several other key planks of the Whig platform; romanticization of the common man and common farmer, support for railroads, and support for homestead acts. Lincoln had become well known as a speaker during his short tenure in Congress, and had experience as an Illinois state legislator for the Nationals and as a frontier lawyer. The Redeemers for their part, seeing a sparsely populated convention and lacking any figure of national renown to nominate, chose instead to endorse Crockett and folded into the Whigs.
 
The 1852 United States Presidential Election
In light of the Panic and Adams' failure to capitalize on the urge for expansion in America, it is of little surprise that Davy Crockett, leading Benton's new Whig party, handily defeated the incumbent president. Winning nearly 53% to Adams' 29 and Smith's 18, Crockett was the unquestionable winner of the election. Even in the South, only four years ago an impregnable garrison of Union strength due to freedmen and soldiers, Crockett swept the area but for Florida--which, as the newest and smallest state population-wise, was thoroughly saturated with veterans, freedmen, and federal troops. It had, after all, been veterans and blacks that had been hit by the Panic as well, and for blacks, particularly hard. Adams walked away with majorities in only three states: Florida, Rhode Island, and his home state of Massachusetts. Joseph Smith's Manifest Party had to only its popular vote share to comfort itself with, having won pluralities in no states. Nevertheless, his party's strength in the North-West was enough to deny Crockett a majority in Iowa and even Illinois, which was Lincoln's home state.

Former Congressman Davy Crockett (Whig-Tennessee)/Congressman Abraham Lincoln (Whig-Illinois) 263 electoral votes, 52.9% of the popular vote
President Charles Francis Adams (Union-Massachusetts)/Vice President Gerrit Smith (Union-New York) 25 electoral votes, 29.4% of the popular vote
Mayor Joseph Smith (Manifest-Illinois)/Congressman Brigham Young (Manifest-Iowa) 0 electoral votes, 17.6% of the popular vote

[PPT Spiral]

Are we ever going to see the maps from 1808-1824?