Hail, Columbia! (The Election of 1840)

[Cranberry]

Henry Clay was reelected in 1836, and the outcome of the Electoral Council vote of that year determined the direction he would be swinging to. He was supported by a coalition of Continentals and Liberals in Congress, the latter party gaining ground in Congress in both the 1835 and 1838 elections, to have the House of Commons with all three parties at similar strength.

Clay would implement policies not dissimilar to his first term's achievements. He continued what he called the "Continental System", for instance by increasing tariffs for industrial produce, seeing as industry had become the Northeast's economical backbone. He furthermore passed laws to develop western infrastructure, and supported provisions that funded the erection of modern steam railways between the northeastern cities, and into the Great Lakes area. He also reorganised the western lands, by approving the commission of the California, Colorado, Montana and Arkansaw Territories in the Southwest. His second term furthermore saw the admission of the provinces of Hidalgo and Missouri, increasing the number of provinces to 34, and the size of the Electoral Council by one each to 84.


President Henry Clay of Kentucky [Continental]
Henry Clay is undertaking an unprecedented step, running for reelection to a third term as President. He is the champion of the Continental Party and the Continental System, proving a popular option for many Northeasterners, his party's chief base. He has tried to keep silent on the slavery issue due to Whig gains in 1838 Congress Elections, and supports an increase in tariffs and public funding for Western expansion.


Senator George Dallas of Pennsylvania [Whig]
Dallas is the Whig candidate in 1840, hoping to be the first non-continental elected President in twelve years. He is a consensus candidate for his party, advocating for the classical Whig issues: abolition of the National Bank, lowering the prize for Western land, up-keeping slavery where it is still legal.


Senator Louis-Joseph Papineau of Quebec [Liberal]
Senator Papineau is from Quebec, which has evolved into a Liberal stronghold in the last years, and intents to be the first man of his party elected presidents. His party's platform is often regarded to sit between the two others, but some have noted the Liberals have a more radical approach to them, which sits well with especially Northwestern voters. The Liberals campaign for a national popular vote, want slavery to be once and for all fully banned, support a $1.00-per-acre prize for land in the western territories, and the admission of the Indian Territory as a full province.

3 days

[Maxwell]

Papineau! It's time for a change!

[Zioneer]

Hurrah for Papineau! Let us end the supremacy of the two main parties and usher in an era of a new Columbia!

[NeverAgain]

I voted Papineau, but Clay would do if necessary to preserve the Union.

[Mr. Smith]

Papineau, Clay is never the answer.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Dallas 4 pres

[Kingpoleon]

Papineau, Dallas if I must.

[TDAS04]

Papineau! 

[Intell]

Papineau! 

[Cranberry]

The election of 1840 would go into the annals of history as being the first one to see a Liberal, Louis-Joseph Papineau, being elected President. This was accomplished by a narrow majority coalition of Francophones, the frontier and southwestern provinces, giving Papineau a small majority of the Electoral Council in the first round. The Liberal plurality House of Commons and Senate elected Thomas Hart Benton, a Liberal Senator from Lafayette, to the office of the Vice President.

 

Senator Louis-Joseph Papineau of Quebec [Liberal] - 47 Electors
President Henry Clay of Kentucky [Continental] - 29 Electors
Senator George Dallas of Pennsylvania [Whig] - 8 Electors