1840 Party Conventions

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1840 Party Conventions

« on: November 27, 2013, 01:10:42 PM »

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 Election

Nevertheless, with the last leg of the war to be fought, Adams is passing the reigns. "One man cannot lead this nation forever." In his stead are multiple candidates for the presidency. The "Union Republicans" organized into a broad-based northern coalition called the Union Party, building on the support that initially led them to near-victory. General Winfield Scott is the leading candidate for president. While the party has little in the way of a full platform, having been created from multiple interests, it is clear it will stand against the expansion of slavery, and several of its most famous voices favor abolition altogether. The party stands behind completion of the war and slow re-admittance of the states. Martin Van Buren stands at the more liberal wing, advocating lowered tariffs and the like, opposition to the expansion of slavery, and a greater focus on emancipation rather than punishment, having undergone a transformation of sorts on slavery during the war years. Meanwhile, James G. Birney stands as the most hard-line abolitionist in the party. The freshman New York Senator advocates complete reconstruction, commenting that federal troops may need to be in the South "for decades to come". Finally, Thomas Morris is running as the "natural heir" to Adams.

The Nationals and Republicans lie largely broken, politically. While President Clay and General Harrison remain respected by the nation at-large, and Harrison popular for his work during the war, the coalition that led the Nationals to such power in previous years is broken. The Union Party controls vast swathes of the North, the South is politically castrated, and the Republicans, while feeble and dying, nevertheless are holding their own as a spoiler. James Buchanan is the only representative of the "dove" faction left in the party running. Harrison favors completion of the war while Clay is focused on an easy re-admittance of the Southern states under the national flag and a national policy. The once-proud party of Jefferson lies broken and dying. Bereft of victory for so long, their northern section gone to the Union and their Southern faction being tried as traitors, they have very few options left. They have only two main candidates: the hawkish Lewis Cass who stands with the Union on war issues and is committed to expansionism. The other is Franklin Pierce. A "doughface" who sympathizes with the South, it is widely believed by outsiders that his nomination would be the last straw for the already weak party. Under his leadership, it is likely that the war would be abandoned altogether and slavery strengthened.

Three days. Vote.

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Supersonic
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	Re: 1840 Party Conventions « Reply #1 on: November 27, 2013, 02:04:56 PM »
	« Edited: November 27, 2013, 02:12:02 PM by Supersonic »

I went with Winfield Scott. Not enthused with any of the other choices.

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