Anniversary of the word gerrymander

In the Boston Gazette on this date, march 26th, 1812, the portmanteau gerrymander first appeared to describe an electoral district drawn so as to increase the chances of its incumbent to win election.

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kharma's picture

Origin:
Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts + salamander = Gerrymander

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There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams

PastorAgnostic's picture

remains a big part of our political reality.

Reading and civics tests for minority voters, closing voting booths, changing locations to impossible to access sites in minority areas, Voter ID, - Gerry was merely the first to be known for it.

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