Seeking Solace from History? Elections & Threats to Democracy

• In Event: Election Violence

Abstract

It was an election, many feared, that would end American democracy as we knew it. The country was still recovering from a financial collapse and there was deep contention over racial issues. There were crucial infrastructure needs. The borders were not secure. There was wide agreement that corruption in government was rampant. Violence flared up among groups trying to protect their own power and rights. Troops were sometimes called in to quell the violence, but sometimes the troops protected the perpetrators of the violence more than the victims. Political polarization was rampant reflecting deep regional and racial divides. Few people really trusted the fundamental instruments of government, including elections, except when they were sure that their own party was in control. Many people feared post-election violence by those who opposed the winner. Yes, this was the 1876 election. History doesn’t repeat itself. But we can learn from history by looking for shared circumstances and elements of important challenges we face, and examining the choices people made and the results of those choices. And searching our history helps us identify the sources of some of our challenges. I argue that the 1876 and 2020 elections may have had some visible similarities, but more importantly, recognizing the degree to which these two elections both represent persistent challenges of American democracy helps to illuminate that history.

Author

• Virginia Sapiro, Boston University/Univ of Wisconsin - Madison