Author: vcczar

*This scenario has been greatly updated by the Historical Scenario Commission. Version 2.0 can be downloaded here: United States – 1836 v. 2.0

This election follows Andrew Jackson’s transformative presidency. Popular democracy, the banking system, tariffs, states’s rights are among the many issues in this election. Andrew Jackson declines a 3rd term and endorses his VP, Martin Van Buren, who had been the architect of the Democratic Party.

Note: The election does not contain a primary season.

The new Whig Party is a loose coalition of former National Republicans, Anti-Masons, Anti-Jackson’s, Adams Men, and Southern Nullifiers. As such, they are greatly disorganized, and have decided to run four candidates separately from different regions with the idea that Van Buren would get hammered in each sector by regionally popular candidates. The House would presumably select a Whig as a president in the deadlocked election, rather than selecting Van Buren. The four Whigs are General William Henry Harrison as a Western Whig, Daniel Webster as a Northern Whig, Hugh L. White as a Southern Whig and Willie P. Mangum as a Nullifier Whig.

The Democrats have unified behind Jackson’s choice of Van Buren. Jackson helped the unanimity by moving the convention so early that an opposing candidate could not be chosen.

There is no 3rd party.

This election allows for what-if scenario:

•  What if the Whigs had unified behind a single candidate with more national range, such as Whig leader Henry Clay or former president John Quincy Adams?
• What if John C. Calhoun ran as the Nullifier Whig?
• What if Andrew Jackson ran for a 3rd term?

Feedback is desired.

*This scenario was greatly updated by the Historical Scenario Commission on July 23, 2017. Version 2.0 can be downloaded here: United States – 1840 v. 2.0

This election takes place during the “Panic of 1837” economic depression. Economic policies under Andrew Jackson, including the removal of the national bank, are considered causes for this depression. However, as the repercussion did not occur until Van Buren’s presidency, and because Jackson was his party’s icon, the incumbent president is feeling all the heat. Van Buren, like many Democrats at the time, did not believe the federal government could constitutionally aid in helping people hurt by the economic depression. For these reasons, Van Buren and his party are not finding favor among voters going into this election.

For the Whigs, the party has decided to regroup after a blunderous campaign strategy in last election, which called for the running of four separate Whigs in the general election. This time, they’ve set their convention early with the idea of running around one of three men: General William Henry Harrison, General Winfield Scott or their party leader, Henry Clay.

For the Democrats, despite Martin Van Buren’s unpopularity, he still is the power of the Democratic Party (outside of Jackson). As such, he is the unanimous nominee in his reelection bid.

The third party is a very weak Liberty Party, which is campaigning on abolitionism.

This election allows for many what-if scenarios:

• What if Daniel Webster tried for the Whig nomination?
• What if the governor of New York, William H. Seward used the power of his state to win the nomination?
• What if former president John Quincy Adams attempt a non-consecutive second term on the Whig ticket? Could his belief in government activism defeat Van Buren’s laissez faire governmental beliefs?
• What if Van Buren had faced challengers such as James K. Polk, Lewis Cass, James Buchanan, Richard Mentor Johnson and John C. Calhoun. Could a Nullifier, such as Calhoun, or the unpopular Johnson, a slave-holder with a common law slave-wife who is the mother of his children, win the election? If Johnson won, would a slave become First Lady?
• What if Andrew Jackson tried to save his party from defeat by running for a non-consecutive 3rd term?

Feedback desired.

Note: I thought I wouldn’t have time for another scenario before I went out of town. Obviously, I was wrong.

*The Historical Scenario Commission greatly updated this scenario on July 23, 2017. Version 2.0 can be downloaded here: United States – 1844 v. 2.0

America has Manifest Destiny on their mind, but they are divided on what party should lead it? How should Western land be acquired? Should slavery be contained or expanded? Should internal improvements link the East Coast to the West through federal aid? Who can lead America though its next epoch?

For the Whigs, the party is trying to rebound from it’s twin disaster of having nominated an aging Whig with a Whig-In-Name-Only as a VP in John Tyler. John Tyler has been kicked out of the party, and the party rallies behind their leader Henry Clay. He does not face an opponent for the nomination.

The Democrats, while supporting the former Whig incumbent president as someone closer to their own, has decided not to support him for reelection. Tyler thought of running as a 3rd party, but ultimately supported the Democratic nominee. The Democratic frontrunner is former president Martin Van Buren, who lost his reelection bid in 1840. In 1840, he was the unanimous nominee. However, in this election, he faces several prominent contenders, including expansionist Lewis Cass, moderate James Buchanan, the legal-minded Levi Woodbury, the eccentric Richard Mentor Johnson and nullifier John C. Calhoun.

The Liberty Party led by former slave-owner turned abolitionist James Birney is the 3rd party.

This election allows for many what-if scenarios:

• What if incumbent president John Tyler ran with his proposed 3rd party, the National Democratic-Republican Party?
• What if Henry Clay faced opposition for the Whig nomination by prominent and popular Whig figures, such as Daniel Webster, Gen. Winfield Scott, John M. Clayton, Judge John McLean, William Seward and the ancient former president John Quincy Adams?

Feedback is desired.

Note: I’ll be away for a week, so 1840 may not appear until after Jan 20th.

*This scenario was updated greatly by the Historical Scenario Commission on July 27, 2017. Version 2.0 can be downloaded here: United States – 1852 v. 2.0

This election takes place two years after the Great Compromise, which delayed the Civil War by ten years. At the time, many thought it could achieve a permanent fix; however, taken by president from 1852-1860 quickly undid this legislation. The three great senators of the 19th century, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun, all worked to keep the union together by advocating this legislation. Each took a hit to their reputation for their bipartisanship. Stephen A. Douglas, one of Lincoln’s rivals, played an important part by organizing the Compromise in a way that would allow it to pass.

Unfortunately, the 1852 election was a dawning of a new age. Calhoun had recently died, Clay would be dead mid-year, and Webster towards the end of the year. A new generation of politicians was emerging. Another recent death was that of President Zachary Taylor, who said he would not sign the compromise and then would go to war with any state that seceded. After Taylor’s death, Millard Fillmore signed the document. Despite Fillmore coming together with Congress, he is unable to win over people within his own party or voters to the Whig banner. The election looks to be a shoe-in for the Democrats.

For the Whigs, with Fillmore loosing support for reelection, the Whig Party turns once again to a hero of the Mexican War. This time it is Winfield Scott, arguably the most impressive general in US history, when considering his successes. At 6’5″ and nearing 300 lbs, he would be the largest president if elected. However, he lacks polish as a politician. Another challenger is the ailing Daniel Webster, who is strong only in his New England stronghold.

The Democrats have two front-runner, the expansionist Lewis Cass, whow as the nominee in 1848, and James Buchanan, who is favored in the South and in Pennsylvania. William Marcy, Stephen A. Douglas and Sam Houston are also candidates. Deep in the shadow is Franklin Pierce, who hopes to emerge as a compromise candidate that is suitable to Southerners, expansionists and Northerners.

The Free Soil Party, led by John P. Hale, is the party for abolitionists.

The election allows for many what-if scenarios:

• What if the rising Whig William H. Seward ran?
• What if a well-known compromisor, John J. Crittenden, ran for the Whig ticket?
• What if former Rep. Abraham Lincoln ran before he developed a name for himself as an orator?

Feedback is desired. The costs for barnstorming, etc appears to be off. If anyone can help me figure out the best dollar level for the campaign actions, then it would be helpful. Thanks.

*This scenario was updated greatly by the Historical Scenario Commission on July 27, 2017. Version 2.0 can be downloaded here: United States – 1856 v. 2.0

This election takes place amid violence between pro-slavery supporters and abolitionists in Kansas. The slavery questions and sectionalism threaten to tear the country apart. However, the Democratic Party, despite threatening to split apart, has the luxury of campaigning against two weaker parties, despite a poor first term by incumbent president Franklin Pierce. A new party, the Republicans are quickly emerging as the opposition party, with former Conscious Whigs, Free Soil Democrats and Northern abolitionists joining together. The majority of Whigs, and Cotton Whigs that do not join the Democrats, unify around the American (or Know Nothing) Party, which aims at preserving the Union and keeping Catholic Immigrants, such as the Irish, Italians and Southern Germans, out of the country. While a rising party during the mid-terms, their anti-immigrant stance is hurting their reputation, causing many of their numbers to join the Republicans, which started out as a single-issue anti-slavery 3rd party during the midterms.

For Republicans, the primary leaders of the party have decided to sit the first election out, perhaps because the election looks like a lost cost. As such, they unify behind the celebrated explorer John C. Fremont, known as “The Great Pathfinder.” His only challenger is former Jacksonian Democrat, and now moderate Republican, Supreme Court Justice John McLean.

The Democrats have 4 major candidates running for the election. Ambassador and former Secretary of State, James Buchanan, who nearly won in 1852, is the front runner against incumbent president Franklin Pierce, who appears to be a defeated president. Stephen A. Douglas, the advocate of Popular Sovereignty, hopes to win over voters in the West and North to secure the election. Lewis Cass, the leader of the expansionists, while a former nominee, may be past his prime.

The American/Know Nothing Party fields former Whig president Millard Fillmore and anti-immigrant businessman George Law. Fillmore hopes that his historic signing of the Great Compromise of 1850 will unify the country behind a compromise candidate.

This election allows for many what-if scenarios:

• What if other leading Republicans aimed for the nomination? These include Republican leader William H. Seward, former US Rep Abraham Lincoln, Speaker Nathaniel P. Banks, abolitionist Charles Sumner.
• What if Jefferson Davis ran as a Southern option for president and William L. Marcy ran as an option from electoral-vote-heavy New York state?
• What if The Liberty Party ran a candidate in 1856 [Note: left this party more as a way to simulate an election without selecting a competing party.]

Feedback is desired.

*This scenario was updated by the Historical Scenario Commission on July 27, 2017. Version 2.0 can be downloaded here: United States – 1864 v. 2.0

This election takes place during the Civil War. Despite the twin victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, Lincoln’s reelection is far from certain as the war seems far from over. Lincoln’s reelection hinges around military success. The Democrats, meanwhile, are split between Peace Democrats and War Democrats.

For Republicans, President Abraham Lincoln ran mostly unopposed (Grant, who was not running, would get token opposition votes from Missouri). Salmon P. Chase and Benjamin Wade considered running in the election (as they would in 1868), but ultimately backed out.

For Democrats, the front runner is General George B. McClellan, who was an adversary of Lincoln, whom the president removed from campaign following a very timid military career early in the war. He was a War Democrat, favoring continuing the war, but would follow the Peace Platform if nominated. Thomas H. Seymour, a Peace Democrat, and Charles O’Conor, a Bourbon Democrat, were his strongest competitors.

There are no ON 3rd Parties

This election allows for many what-if scenarios:

• What if Lincoln was challenged by leading Radical Republicans Salmon P. Chase, Benjamin Wade, Charles Sumner, Simon Cameron and more?
• What if Radical Republicans convinced the popular Ulysses S. Grant to give up his military duties and challenge Lincoln for the presidency?
• Many Democrats decided not to challenge Lincoln, believing it was a lost cause. What if leading Democrats Horatio Seymour, former president Franklin Pierce, Governor Andrew Johnson, former president James Buchanan, former president Millard Fillmore and others ran anyway?
• Radical Republicans opposed to Lincoln’s leniency attempted to run a 3rd Party, which fell apart not too long after their convention. What if John C. Fremont or Ulysses S. Grant led the Radical Democracy Party against the two primary parties?

Feedback is desired

Version 2.0 (w/ events added by Davis Os)

*This scenario has been greatly updated by the Historical Scenario Commission on July 27, 2017. You can download version 3.0 here: United States – 1868 v. 3.0

This election takes place three years following the Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The two major issues are the radical Republican brand of Reconstruction, which was a departure of Abraham Lincoln’s planned lenient Reconstruction, and the second major issue is charges of abuse of power against incumbent President Andrew Johnson.

For Republicans, the nomination was unanimous for victorious Union General Ulysses S. Grant, who had just recently declared that he was a Republican. Salmon P. Chase and Benjamin Wade, both of Ohio, had considered a run for the presidency, but dropped out when Grant jumped in. They couldn’t hope to compete with the leading living Northern hero of the Civil War.

For the Democrats, the party tried to show support for Andrew Johnson while also scrounging for a more competent replacement for him. Former Ohio Representative George H. Pendleton was the leading front-runner, with Thomas Hendricks, General Winfield Scott Hancock, incumbent President Andrew Johnson, and many others also in the race. However, a dark horse compromise candidate, who would have probably been the front-runner if he actively campaigned, was popular former New York governor Horatio Seymour.

No third parties are ON for this election.

This election allows for many what-if scenarios:

• What if Salmon P. Chase and Benjamin Wade had stayed in the race to compete against Grant?
• What if several other leading Republicans joined the race, such as William Seward, Roscoe Conkling, Simon Cameron, Charles Sumner, John C. Fremont and many more.
• What if Abraham Lincoln had not been assassinated and ran for a 3rd term? Shot at the height of his achievements, would he have retained his popularity against a Radical Republican congress that vehemently opposed his lenient Reconstruction. Could he keep on the campaign while rapidly ailing to what some historians think was Marfan’s Syndrome?
• What if several other notable Democrats ran for the nomination? These include, 1864 nominee George B. McClellan, former president Franklin Pierce, John Quincy Adams II and others.
• What if the Constitutional Union party reemerged to find a middle ground for Americans. Former president Millard Fillmore leads this what-if 3rd party.

Version 2.0 by OS Davis included events, a few new issues, and two new minor parties: Equal Rights and Prohibition.

Version 3.0 was updated by the Historical Scenario Commission on July 27, 2017. Download here: United States – 1872 v. 3.0

*****

The 1872 election is one of the most bizarre elections in our history. President Grant’s first term was highly controversial, involving scandals and Radical Republican Reconstruction legislation. The corruption of the administration bothered both Democrats and Republicans. However, Grant was still personally popular, as he was perceived to have been mostly beyond the scandals of his administration. As such, a disorganized Democratic Party, weakened by Reconstruction, united with unhappy, reform-minded Republicans in strengthening a new party–the Liberal Republican Party.

For the Republican, Grant and his backers had such a strong hold on that party, that he was unchallenged for the nomination, despite the controversial first term.

The Liberal Republicans field many interesting candidates, but none as powerful a figure as President Grant. The leading candidates were:eccentric newspaper editor, Horace Greeley, and former ambassador, and son of president John Quincy Adams and grandson of president John Adams, Charles Francis Adams, who had kept the British from aiding the Confederacy during the Civil War. Other candidates include popular Missouri politician Benjamin Gratz Brown, well-known civil right activist Lyman Trumbull, Supreme Court Judge David Davis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase and ambassador Andrew Curtin.

The Bourbon Democrats is the third part for this election. They were conservative, pro-business Democrats that would not endorse the Liberal Republicans. The candidates selected were Charles O’Conor and John Quincy Adams II, the son of the ambassador mentioned above. Both candidates refused to join this third party, but they were on the ballots anyway.

This election has many what-if scenarios:

• What if several Republicans ganged up on Ulysses S. Grant and his corrupt political machine and fielded several candidates from many states in order to hold as many delegates as possible, so that they could choose a reform candidate? These candidates include Rutherford B. Hayes, James G. Blaine, Charles Sumner, John Sherman, Benjamin F. Butler, John C. Fremont, Ambrose Burnside and many others.
• What if the Democrats had been better organized, more confident and fielded their own candidates like a usual election? Candidates for the Democrats include Thomas A. Hendricks, Winfield Scott Hancock, Samuel J. Tilden, John Quincy Adams II, Thomas Bayard, Salmon P. Chase, George B. McClellan, Horatio Seymour, former president Andrew Johnson, former Whig president Millard Fillmore and many others.
• What if Samuel J. Tilden ran as the Bourbon Democrat nominee?

For the best effect, it is best that you turn off the Liberal Republicans and the Bourbon Democrats, if you turn the Democrats ON. However, the game is still highly playable if you play as every party. However, keep in mind that some politicians belong to more than one party in this scenario.

Feedback is desired.