Do elections matter Why or why not

1
Do elections matter? Why or why not?
2
1876 Election

• Election of 1876 is a mess
• Republican Hayes Dem. Tilden short of electoral
  votes
• FLA (!) LA votes in dispute
• Congress sets up Commission of 15 to decide
  election
• Deal swings Commission to Hayes in exchange for
  various measures
• End to military occupation
• Federal aid for southern RRs, internal
  improvements, federal patronage
• Leads to mass exodus of thousands of southern
  blacks northwards

3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
1896

• Peoples Party (Populists) are a factor
  http//projects.vassar.edu/1896/populists.html
• free silver is the key issue
• Pops. Democrats merge become fusion ticket
• Republican McKinley wins pro-imperialism, gold
  standard - http//projects.vassar.edu/1896/populis
  ts.html
• http//projects.vassar.edu/1896/
• 3rd party movement changes US politics

6
1960 JF Kennedy v. Richard Nixon

• extremely close contest Cold War as backdrop
• telegenic, youthful JFK proves successful
• Election in the television age
• JFK message of activism is key beginning point
  for idealism, youthful energy of 1960s

7
1980 Reagan Revolution

• Rejection of Vietnam syndrome
• Iran hostage crisis, stagflation, malaise drags
  down Jimmy Carter
• New Cold War anti-Soviet focus
• simple Reagan message strong defense, smaller
  government otherwise, cowboy appeal

8
1992-2000

• 1992, 1996 Clinton, Dem. victory for a more
  fair economy, post-Cold War plan, universal
  health care, balanced budgets, populist appeal,
  free trade, pro-technology, moderate social
  policies
• 1994- GOP rebounds with victory taking Congress
  for first time in _at_50 years
• 2000- G. W. Bush v. Al Gore in disputed election