U.S. Presidential Elections From The Founding of The Republic Until Today

Donald Trump's 2016 win demonstrated that nothing is for certain whatever the pundits and pollsters may say. Join us in studying the "crowning" of George Washington in 1789, the arrival of democracy with Andrew Jackson, the election that sparked the Civil War, the 1896 Cross of Gold contest, the invention of party primaries in the early 20th century, and the impact of Big Money and populist demagoguery in our own time. As H. L. Mencken said, "A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in."

Facilitators:

Mirren Hinchley, mirren.hinchley@icloud.com, is a retired corporate librarian who focused her undergraduate degree on American politics and history.

Frank Nicholson, (416-488-6131) fnicholson@rogers.com, was born and raised in the U.S., holds a graduate degree in history and has facilitated several history workshops for the Academy.