DECEMBER 3 — ELECTIONS: Campaign Smearing Begins For 1800 Election; 1941 FDR does not get answer from Japan regarding Thailand; 1924 Happy Birthday John Backus (FORTRANS); 1999 Tori Murden becomes first American to row across the Atlantic
DECEMBER 3
1800 – Electors cast their ballots for the president in the 1800 election.
Let the campaign smearing begin. The election, a.k.a. The Revolution of 1800 was basically a rematch of the 1796 election only dirtier with the opposite result. In this corner, from the Democratic-Republican party, former Secretary of State, opposed the Federalists strong central government under President John Adams, was against the expansion of the military as it would appear to fight in the quasi war with France, opposed the Alien and Sedition acts which seemed to edge on a path to tyranny, bottom line wanted more control for states’ rights and less for the government. In that corner, Federalist President of the US Adams from Massachusetts believed that sympathy towards the French would bring the war to the steps of America’s front door. This being the 4th election in America, flaws in the Constitutionality of the Electoral College became exploited.
Before the 12th amendment, electors voted for two candidates, but it wasn’t clear if their votes were for the president or vice president. The vice president was simply chosen by the one that had the second most votes, which led to four years of Jefferson serving under Adams. Now there was a ticket on which a candidate could run, and on the Democratic-Republican ticket, Jefferson and fellow party member Aaron Burr would run. On the Federalist ticket, Adams chose Charles Pinckney. Jefferson and Burr would win the election with 73 votes, while Adams and Pinckney received 65. As before in 1796, the Federalists swept New England, the Democratic-Republicans swept the South, and the Mid-Atlantic States were split down the middle.
While the Democratic-Republicans swept both houses, Jefferson and Burr actually received the same number of electoral votes, which threw the decision to the House of Representatives, which was now controlled by an as-of-now obsolete Federalist party. Given a choice between Burr and Jefferson, the Federalist actually preferred Burr. It appeared New York Senator Burr would become America’s third president, but not if Alexander Hamilton had anything to say about it. And he had a lot to say about it, mainly to his fellow Federalist congressmen, causing them to switch their votes to Jefferson. Burr would of course get mortal revenge on Hamilton later on in New Jersey, but for now, he was blocked by Hamilton from being president. Jefferson’s first term would be highlighted by his successful negotiation in the Louisiana Purchase, improving shipping systems which led to a better economy, and keeping America out of Europe’s ongoing wars.
Charles Pinckney would run against Jefferson in 1804, but by then the Federalist Party would all but fall apart.
1818 – Illinois becomes the 21st state.
…When settlers came in and saw an endless landscape of beautiful golden plains, it was no doubt breathtaking. But where are the trees. They were used to the trees and forests in Kentucky and Tennessee, and didn’t know what to make of that fact that there was nothing but prairie here. They thought perhaps the soil wasn’t able to produce trees, so in the early days, Illinois only had a population of around 35,000. Besides, without trees, it was hard to build houses or other structures and tools. So it took them a little while to realize that they just needed strong plows to deal with the tough deep roots in the ground. It was discovered that the soil was amazingly rich and perfect for vegetation. That coupled with easier access to woods via new shipping routes, encouraged farmers to come on in. By 1840 Chicago was one America’s big cities. But that’s the boring part.
Here’s the fun stuff according to 50states.com. Illinois has more personalized license plates than any other state. In Mount Pulaski, boys are not allowed to throw snowballs at trees, but girls can. Probably because they throw like, well, girls. Classic rock station 105.9 proudly boasts that of all the radio stations in Chicago, we’re one of them. Love it. The Chicago River is dyed green on St. Patrick’s Days. One time New York Sun editor Charles Dana, tired of hearing Chicagoans boast of the world’s Columbia Exposition, called to Chicago the Windy City. Tampico is where Ronald Reagan’s from. Abe Lincoln’s from Springfield. Illinois has 102 counties. The world’s first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885.In Southern Illinois, there’s actually a town called Metropolis. No you will not find Superman there. You can try but he moves around a lot.
1941 – While the British were sending trips to Libya, Nazis were rushing reinforcements, and Tokyo had yet to explain to president FDR whether or not they were going to invade Thailand, America still wasn’t in the war. The Washington Evening Star’s headline instead read: Airport Coffee Shop Refuses to Serve Colored Quartet. In geek news…
1924 – Happy birthday John Backus. He wrote FORTRANS, ALGOL, speedcoding, and functional level programming. Now if you’re not an IT person like me, chances are you don’t even know what that is and don’t even care so I’ll move on, but if you are, good stuff back in those days.
1826 – Happy birthday Little Napoleon.
…In his early days, George McLellan served in the Mexican American war and taught at West Point. When the Civil War broke out, he was appointed major general of the Ohio Valley Volunteers, and President Lincoln commissioned him to the Regulars. He defeated Irvin McDowell at the 1st battle of Bull Run and would lead the Army of the Potomac. But after defeat at Manassas, his army was disorganized and McLellan constantly getting outwitted by Confederate Gen. Johnston, he was unable to recapture Richmond Virginia, and was relieved of duty. He actually ran for president against his old boss Abraham Lincoln, but didn’t come close. After the war, he served as governor of NJ.
1999– Tori Murden rows across the Atlantic solo.
From Louisville Kentucky, at 8:46 a.m. Tori Murden completed an 82-day 2,962 mile journey from the Canary Islands to Pointe-a-Pitre, wherever that is. France I’m guessing because I’m just a stupid ignorant ‘Merican. Imagine the tan she got! She’s not only the first woman to row this distance; she’s also the first woman to and first American to ski the South Pole the first to climb the Lewis Nunatak which is in Antartica.
These Days Tori is the president of Spalding University, which is a Catholic university in Louisville. She’s accomplished so many things revolving around environmental ethics and wilderness excursions I’m feeling like a very boring person in comparison right about now. Congratulations, Tori, for what it’s worth from a dude with a silly podcast about U.S. History.