Scott Fyall

HIST 359

Pro Van Buren 1848

            For this advertisement I focused on the primary platform of the Free Soil Party prior to the U.S. Presidential Election of 1848: no slavery in the new territories. First off, the song chosen for this video, “Now Let Me Fly” (performed by Kim and Reggie Harris), was a popular slave song at the time. Continue reading →

Cooper Zelnick                                                                                                                     Pro Pierce Explanation Paper

              I found this election, and subsequently this video, somewhat complicated to navigate. The fact that Franklin Pierce was such a dark horse candidate, as well as his lack of visibility on the national stage before the campaign made the video somewhat difficult to make. Continue reading →

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27QwIvNjPSY

Charlie Gephart

For Cass Explanation

            Joel Silbey, in Party Over Section; The Rough and Ready Presidential Election of 1848, writes that “the Democratic campaign [for Lewis Cass] was neither innovative nor adventurous” (115).  The campaign almost wholly avoided the polarizing subject of slavery, instead focusing on other issues.  Continue reading →