When we discuss politics we often rely on terms which were coined in the 19th century. Some of the words we take for granted have very colorful histories, rooted in political campaigns and controversies of the 1800s.
The term "stump speech" has come to mean a routine speech, but in its original usage, the term indicated something quite different. A stump speech was grand entertainment, and politicians who could joust "on the stump" were lively attractions and grand entertainment. Indeed, even the invocation of a tree stump evoked frontier action.More »
The term gerrymander relates to how Congressional districts are drawn, and it has become a subject of controversy. The word was coined by a newspaper editorial who was disgusted with the actions of his state legislature, and the fanciful nature of the word might have ensured its longevity.More »
The image of a dark horse did not originate in politics, and actually has to do with, as you might expect, horse racing. But it came into American politics during a very contentious political convention, when a party couldn't make up its mind and had to find a candidate.More »
The first American political conventions were nearly ceremonial, and things tended to proceed according to plan. But that changed by the 1840s, and things got pretty raucous. Lots of trading of favors became the norm, and by the 1850s some political conventions had become marathons.
In recent decades the classic brokered convention has gone the way of the Conestoga Wagon, but the conventions that inspired the term were something to behold.More »
•Stump Speech
The term "stump speech" has come to mean a routine speech, but in its original usage, the term indicated something quite different. A stump speech was grand entertainment, and politicians who could joust "on the stump" were lively attractions and grand entertainment. Indeed, even the invocation of a tree stump evoked frontier action.More »
•Gerrymander
The term gerrymander relates to how Congressional districts are drawn, and it has become a subject of controversy. The word was coined by a newspaper editorial who was disgusted with the actions of his state legislature, and the fanciful nature of the word might have ensured its longevity.More »
•Dark Horse
The image of a dark horse did not originate in politics, and actually has to do with, as you might expect, horse racing. But it came into American politics during a very contentious political convention, when a party couldn't make up its mind and had to find a candidate.More »
•Brokered Convention
The first American political conventions were nearly ceremonial, and things tended to proceed according to plan. But that changed by the 1840s, and things got pretty raucous. Lots of trading of favors became the norm, and by the 1850s some political conventions had become marathons.
In recent decades the classic brokered convention has gone the way of the Conestoga Wagon, but the conventions that inspired the term were something to behold.More »
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