Disclaimer: This blog is not endorsing any political candidate or taking a side in the 2016 US Election.
On November the 8th the U.S.A had its Presidential Election. The candidates were Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Hillary Clinton, Libertarian Gary Johnson, and Green Party Jill Stein as well as other 3rd party candidates. Polls showed Clinton winning by 5 points. However, Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes in one of the biggest political upsets in American History. Hillary conceded, and it seemed the election, which had been very nasty, was finally over.
After Trump’s win lots of questions have been raised and a lot of protests have occurred. Accusations of hacking by foreign countries was raised in the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. These three states voted Republican for the first time in a while. Wisconsin, last voted Republican in 1984, Michigan last voted Republican in 1988 and Pennsylvania, which is one of the big 6 of swing states, last voted republican in 1988. In addition, Trump won Wisconsin by 28,000 votes, Michigan by 10,450 and as of this writing Pennsylvania by 80,000 votes. Green Party Candidate Jill Stein raised enough money and petition to demand a recount in Wisconsin. To make things more interesting was that Clinton appears to have won the popular vote in America by 1.65 million votes. So, is the election of 2016 shades of previous elections 1824, 1876, 1888 and 2000? It appears likely as 2016 became the 5th time in American history were a candidate lost the popular vote but won the Electoral College. Moreover, all of these elections were heavily disputed. As of right now it looks like 2016 is going to be disputed as well. The election of 2016 shows shades of the previous elections mentioned above.
The election of 1824 was highly controversial as it was between Democrat John Q Adams, Democrat Andrew Jackson, Georgian Democrat William H Crawford, and Kentuckian Democrat Henry Clay. The Democrat party was really the only party in this election as the Federalist party had disbanded. Democrats tried to make themselves appear different such as adopting the state they were from into their party. Andrew Jackson had the most electoral votes at 99 and received 151,271 votes in the popular vote. John Q Adams received 84 Electoral Votes and 113,122 votes. Crawford won 41 electoral votes and 40,856 votes. Clay, won 37 electoral votes, and 47,530 votes. It appeared Andrew Jackson had won with the most electoral votes and popular vote. However, no candidate won a majority. So the election was disputed. The election would be settled in Congress. Jackson was a military hero but Adams had more friends in congress. Also Adams, was more favored in the House. Despite Jackson winning more votes. The house voted for Adams and Adams was awarded the Presidency. To this day this is the only election in American History that congress chose the President.
The Election of 1876 is America’s most controversial and disputed election. The Candidates were Republican Rutherford Hays and Democrat Samuel Tilden. The Civil war had ended 11 years ago. The south had military occupation and was under the Reconstruction ERA. Hays received 4 million popular votes and originally 165 electoral votes. Tilden received 4.2 million votes, and 184 electoral votes. Tilden appeared to have been the winner. But, the election was disputed in the American South. The states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Louisiana were heavily disputed. Accusations of voter fraud, people voting more than once, delegates switching among other things made this election contested. However, Hays made a deal with the southern states. Hays promised to pull the military out of the South and end reconstruction if the southern states would vote for him in the electoral college. That is what happened, the Southern states were disputes occurred gave hays 20 more electoral votes. Hays now had 185 electoral votes to Tilden’s 184. Lawsuits were filed but the courts refused to hear them. This election though had greater impacts. The Democrats were restored in the American South and Jim Crowe laws would be passed. As of today this remains the USA’s most disputed election and one that had very severe consequences.
Election of 1888. Now this election was just weird. Incumbent President Democrat Grover Cleveland was running against Republican Benjamin Harrison. Cleveland won 5.54 million popular votes compared to Harrison’s 5.44 million votes. However, Harrison won the electoral votes with 233 compared to Cleveland’s 168. But, there were several reports of voter fraud. People supposedly even went across state lines to vote in other states. Moreover, Cleveland lost in all the states by less than one percent. In fact, in 14 states Harrison won by less than 1%. Despite the disputes Harrison was sworn in as President. Cleveland quoted “keep this house warm because I will be back”. Cleveland words proved to be true. As in 1892 Cleveland was elected again becoming the only president to be elected twice in non consecutive terms.
Election of 2000. This one was one of the closest elections seen in a century. The Candidates were Republican George W Bush, Democrat Al Gore, Reform Party Pat Buchanan, and Green party Ralph Nader. Al Gore won the popular vote with 50.9 million votes compared to Bush’s 50.5 million popular votes. George W Bush though won the electoral college with 271 electoral votes compared to Gore’s 267 electoral votes. But the result of the election ended up being disputed for months. The state in dispute was Florida. Bush won Florida with less than 1% of the vote. Gore contested the state and demanded a recount several times. The recount saga ended up being a total debacle. Reports of hanging chads, voter fraud, and hidden ballot boxes were brought up. After the recounts it showed Bush won with a margin of 0.01% and by 4,000 votes. Gore still contested and the case ended up reaching the Supreme Court. The high court ruled Bush won Florida and that the accusations were voided. The ruling gave Bush 271 electoral votes.
The election of 2016 does have shades of the previous elections that were disputed or controversial. So far the election is showing shades of the election of 1888. Trump won 5 of the big 6 swing states. The states of Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida are big prizes due to their electoral votes. These states usually decide who will be America’s next president. Also these states have been carried by both Republicans and Democrats with slim margins. The states that are being disputed are mostly Wisconsin and Michigan. These two states except for a few times had been reliable blue states. Yet Trump won these two states. The thing is Trump won by slim margins under 1%. This highly resembles the election of 1888 were Harrison won with margins of less than 1%. Also there are disputes and accusations. In 1888 it was mostly voter fraud being the main accusation. In 2016 the main issue being brought up is were the voting machines hacked? Computer experts say its possible but very unlikely.
The 2016 election could end up being another election debacle. One candidate won the popular vote but lost the electoral college. To make things more complicated. Trump is already picking nominees for his administration. Hillary also conceded the election to Trump on November the 9th. Clinton was not the first person to demand a recount. Jill Stein (Green Party) was the main person demanding a recount. This is really weird because Stein got only 1% of votes. Logically it would seem that Hillary should have been the main one demanding a recount. In addition, several questions are raised that could make this election a debacle. If it comes out the machines were hacked what happens? Will Clinton take back her concession papers or will this be another election that reaches the high court? Another question is how will people respond? The 2016 election has brought out extremists on both sides and has lead to violence. People have been beat, mugged, threatened and even had businesses set on fire because they voted a certain way. Delegates have also had death threats against them. Will a contested election bring more violence it very well could? Finally, if the recounts show other issues we can expect several lawsuits and legal questions raised.
Just when people though the very bitter and nasty election was over more comes up. 2016 is showing shades of previous elections and looks like this election will be disputed. What happens next is anyone’s guess. Some have brought up could this election (if it is contested) tear America apart. Since the year 2000 America has become very divided. Moderate and middle ground politics have evaporated in America. It appears Americans are on one side or the other. This has created more tension and at times violence by both sides. The 2016 election has already made history and it could make even more history showing shades or previously disputed elections.
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