1848 U.S. Presidential Election

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Once again, the Union Party is running on the proclamation of "Union and Liberty, Forever". "Over the past twelve years, John Quincy Adams and Martin Van Buren have led the nation through war and victory and into peace. We are now seeing the greatest amount of liberty and prosperity in our re-united nation than ever before." writes one Union newspaperman. However, the nation is not content to merely rest on its laurels. Having achieved peace and now being economically secure, many voters want once more to push West. While Van Buren has continued sales of land in what was the Louisiana Purchase, he has been moribund on talks with Great Britain over the Oregon Territory, and reluctant to engage the twin Republics of Texas and California over annexation despite both governments have expressed support for the idea. Worried, as well, about expanding the federal debt--the military budget is high enough as it is, though it's been reduced since troop numbers have lowered in the South--he has vetoed preliminary bills for a trans-national railway system.

Charles Francis Adams, whose surrogates successfully helped him unseat Van Buren at the convention, is hoping to bring new life to the party. Promising to fund the construction of railways through a tariff increase and to bring Britain to the bargaining table for Oregon, it is hoped that Adams will be able to bring expansionists into the fold of the already "big tent" Union Party. However, Adams isn't the only choice for those that want to see a larger United States. Promising to bring "the blessings of liberty" to every corner of the should-be U.S., Joseph Smith is once again running on a radical platform, though much expanded upon from four years before. Not only does he promise to annex Oregon, he claims he will bring both California and Texas into the fold, and even if force be necessary to accomplish it, as fully free states. This is a marked contrast to how the Van Buren administration has treated what it regards as an ex-ally to the CAS. Former President Sam Houston, who has served several tenures as Texas' chief executive, has stated in letters to the administration that he would be willing to approach abolition if necessary, but to little avail to radicals within the Van Buren State Department. As well, Joseph Smith's vision includes a railroad to span the entire continent from East to West, continued enforcement of African-American voting rights, and an even more aggressive stance against slavery. The Redeemer Party is the third party in the election. Made up largely of ex-CAS veterans and anti-federalist Southerners, its plan to "redeem" the South through withdrawal of federal troops and restoration of pre-war autonomy will likely not prove popular with the general public. That said, they've nominated two unionists who opposed secession, due largely to the fact that almost all of the Confederation's political, military, and economic leaders were arrested and, even if they were free, they likely wouldn't receive a single vote outside the South.

Three days.

[ElectionsGuy]

Adams.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Voted for the redeemers as a protest vote. I'm not interested in expanding west.

Says the guy posting from Texas.

[OAM]

Smith for Westward expansion!

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Smith! We can do this!

[Maxwell]

Not really enthusiastic about the field, so I'll pick the Redeemer's.

[Goldwater]

Smith for Westward expansion!

[PPT Spiral]

Donelson as a protest vote. I don't want an Adams monarchy.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Donelson as a protest vote. I don't want an Adams monarchy.

Smith! Illinois and Missouri are Mormonland now!

[Zioneer]

Hurrah, Hurrah for Smith!

[Dr. Cynic]

Adams.

[Donerail]

Smith! One vote behind!

[free my dawg]

The mormons.

[Cassius]

Donelson.

[Dancing with Myself]

Adams

Only real choice.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

We need to expand westward, guys! Vote for Smith if you want Texas and California to join the Union!

BTW, if it's not too much to ask, who have been the presidents of Texas and California?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

We need to expand westward, guys! Vote for Smith if you want Texas and California to join the Union!

BTW, if it's not too much to ask, who have been the presidents of Texas and California?

Too much to ask at the moment, but I'll try to hash out a list over Christmas break. Wish I'd thought to do elections for them simultaneously. Too late now, as their actions could shift actions in the U.S. retroactively. *Sigh*

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

We need to expand westward, guys! Vote for Smith if you want Texas and California to join the Union!

BTW, if it's not too much to ask, who have been the presidents of Texas and California?

Too much to ask at the moment, but I'll try to hash out a list over Christmas break. Wish I'd thought to do elections for them simultaneously. Too late now, as their actions could shift actions in the U.S. retroactively. *Sigh*

I'm sure Sam Houston would have won almost the Texas things if we'd done it - remember when he came in second in the Atlamerica 1860 election, and I'm pretty sure the RL Bear Flag Republic became independent in early 1846, so they've probably only had time for one president (probably William B. Ide like IRL). Texas seems like we'd do the same thing as IRL, except maybe not Mirabeau Lamar (awesome as is name may be, he supported independence and hated Indians). However, Lamar was elected unanimously, so I think we can just use the IRL lists for both states/republics. Yay!

[Rooney]

I voted for Donnelson. He is the only candidate who will keep tariffs low, not give tax dollars to the railroads, veto unnecessary "internal improvement" schemes and finally withdraw troops from the South. Reconstruction is illegal and immoral and it must be ended.

[Zioneer]

Dangit Redeemers, we could've had Joseph Smith as President if not for you!

[Donerail]

Dangit Redeemers, we could've had Joseph Smith as President if not for you!

Electoral College alliance to finally break the Union stranglehold?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Dangit Redeemers, we could've had Joseph Smith as President if not for you!

Electoral College alliance to finally break the Union stranglehold?

Smith/Davis?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

About one more day to go on this if you wanna vote.

[Zioneer]

About one more day to go on this if you wanna vote.

Should it go to a second round if nobody wins 50%, since that would indicate a potential split Electoral College?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

About one more day to go on this if you wanna vote.

Should it go to a second round if nobody wins 50%, since that would indicate a potential split Electoral College?

In RL, we've had election winners with like 39% of the vote. In theory, the Union party could be easily carried to victory thanks to their strength in the East, an advantage their opposition lacks.