The Election of 1908 is a watershed moment in American Politics, and considered by many historians to be the true beginning of the 20th Century, and the beginning of the End of the Balance of Power that had existed since the end of the Franco-Prussian War.
The Democratic Party renominated President Hearst, although not easily, because Johnathan Bryan attempted to get himself nominated over fears that the President's poor performance might hinder reelection chances. However incumbency momentum ensured Hearst was renominated however Bryan was instead selected as the Vice President. Hearst promised a continuation of his laissez-faire economics policy as well as continued neutrality in Latin America. However his message failed to resonate as it did 4 years prior, and drew little enthusiasm from the base, however the machines delivered. Even Bryan's energetic stump speaking could not draw crowds, especially noteworthy at a rally in Illinois where only one spectator showed up.
The People's Party (officially the Populist-Progressive-Syndicalist Party) was the result of the fusion of said three parties in a desperate push to get Hearst out of office. The Convention saw Governor Delano of New York (de facto head of the Progressive Party) nominated alongside Representative George Cannon (of the Populist Party). The Campaign promoted economic growth, greater limits on governmental power, and the nationalization of the banks and railroads. Their message was extremely well-received around the nation, providing hope to a nation who had seen near-constant Democratic control since the collapse of the Republican Party in 1876 following the impeachment of President Burnside.
The Southron Nationalist Party was formed from the Southern contingent of the Democratic Party, who began agitating for Southern Independence after what they saw as the failure of the Federal Government. Senators Simmons and Bacon campaigned, but knowing they would not win also began encouraging states to secede simultaneously. They swept the south (thanks to ballot access laws) except for Louisiana who had seen radically polarizing politics with the rise of Bill Hall and the Syndicalist Party.
.The Election was a close one, with the People's Party winning by a faithless elector in Maryland, giving them just barely enough electoral votes to give them the Presidency. This surprising result led to the famous Pershing Coup in 1908, which cost the lives of both Delano and Cannon and sparked the crisis that would eventually lead to the events of the Second Civil War.
"If the Anarchists want to take this country, they can take it from my cold, dead, hands!" - General James Pershing, giving his famous 'Cold Dead Hands speech'
"I will not take this blunt usurpation of the Constitution sitting down!" - Governor Victor Chaney of Sacramento
"It is clear no one respects the authority of this federal government. I hereby declare the unilateral independence of the Southron Republic once again!" President Furnifold Simmons of the Second Southron Republic
The Democratic Party renominated President Hearst, although not easily, because Johnathan Bryan attempted to get himself nominated over fears that the President's poor performance might hinder reelection chances. However incumbency momentum ensured Hearst was renominated however Bryan was instead selected as the Vice President. Hearst promised a continuation of his laissez-faire economics policy as well as continued neutrality in Latin America. However his message failed to resonate as it did 4 years prior, and drew little enthusiasm from the base, however the machines delivered. Even Bryan's energetic stump speaking could not draw crowds, especially noteworthy at a rally in Illinois where only one spectator showed up.
The People's Party (officially the Populist-Progressive-Syndicalist Party) was the result of the fusion of said three parties in a desperate push to get Hearst out of office. The Convention saw Governor Delano of New York (de facto head of the Progressive Party) nominated alongside Representative George Cannon (of the Populist Party). The Campaign promoted economic growth, greater limits on governmental power, and the nationalization of the banks and railroads. Their message was extremely well-received around the nation, providing hope to a nation who had seen near-constant Democratic control since the collapse of the Republican Party in 1876 following the impeachment of President Burnside.
The Southron Nationalist Party was formed from the Southern contingent of the Democratic Party, who began agitating for Southern Independence after what they saw as the failure of the Federal Government. Senators Simmons and Bacon campaigned, but knowing they would not win also began encouraging states to secede simultaneously. They swept the south (thanks to ballot access laws) except for Louisiana who had seen radically polarizing politics with the rise of Bill Hall and the Syndicalist Party.
.The Election was a close one, with the People's Party winning by a faithless elector in Maryland, giving them just barely enough electoral votes to give them the Presidency. This surprising result led to the famous Pershing Coup in 1908, which cost the lives of both Delano and Cannon and sparked the crisis that would eventually lead to the events of the Second Civil War.
"If the Anarchists want to take this country, they can take it from my cold, dead, hands!" - General James Pershing, giving his famous 'Cold Dead Hands speech'
"I will not take this blunt usurpation of the Constitution sitting down!" - Governor Victor Chaney of Sacramento
"It is clear no one respects the authority of this federal government. I hereby declare the unilateral independence of the Southron Republic once again!" President Furnifold Simmons of the Second Southron Republic
