(The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center)
GERRYMANDERING: A HISTORICAL CONFLICT
The Beginning
The term ‘Gerrymander’ was coined in 1812, when Governor Elbridge Gerry redistricted Essex Country to keep his party, the Democratic-Republicans, in power for the upcoming election against the Federalists.
"Long and thin, the redrawn state senate district in Massachusetts stretched from near Boston to the New Hampshire border, where it hooked east along the Merrimack River to the coast." |
The Gerrymander
Upon seeing a picture of Gerry's district in the Weekly Messenger, a Boston Gazette editor conversationally compared it to a salamander. A fellow editor elaborated, “Salamander! Call it a Gerrymander.” Weeks later, artist Elkanah Tisdale published a drawing of the district in the Boston Gazette, but added wings, hooked feet, and a monstrous head.
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Opponents React to the Gerrymander
The Federalists immediately cried foul in Boston newspapers. Only much later would politicians and voters seek remedy through the Courts.
"The above representation has been procured to show... in what mode the present ruling party have dissected the Commonwealth; not “carved as a dish fit for the Gods”, but “hewn it as a carcass fit for hounds”. The two edged sword of the party has pierced to the dividing of the joints and the marrow; but we trust that there is yet life in the mangled members: we trust that those who have done this deed will receive their well-merited reward- in the sentiments of an injured people."
- The Weekly Messenger, March 6, 1812
“…these counties, containing an immense federal majority of more than 2800 electors, would exhibit the strange spectacle of being represented by four federalists and five democrats in the first branch of the legislature. But we confide in the spirit, the intelligence, and the virtue of the good people of these districts to defeat this attempt to control the constitutional rights of suffrage”.
- The Weekly Messenger, March 6, 1812
“The horrid Monster of which this drawing is a correct representation, appeared in the County of Essex, during the last session of the Legislature...the Devil himself must undoubtably have been concerned, either directly or indirectly in the procreation of this monster."
- The Boston Gazette, March 26, 1812