The 1837 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on October 2, 1837, to elect the governor of Georgia. In a major upset, thanks in part to the Panic of 1837, Whig State Rights candidate and Ex-Governor George R. Gilmer beat incumbent Democratic Union Governor Willam Schley.[1][2]
During this time, Georgian politics were dominated by two local parties, the Union party and the State Rights party. The Union party was the product of the forces of liberal democracy that brought white manhood suffrage and popular elections in the 1800s. The State Rights party, on the other hand, was a political anomaly whose conservative politics and organization were more closely related to those of the late 1800s.[2]
The Panic of 1837 was a major hit to the already weakening Union party as it brought attention to the Union administered Central Bank of Georgia.[2] Created in 1828, the state-owned bank was the most powerful financial institution in Georgia. Upcountry Democrats were supporters of the bank while the Whigs were skeptical of it.[3]
The panic also highlighted disagreements between the liberal democratic wing of the Union party and the conservative machine element close to Governor Schley. The latter of these two groups was led by Tomlinson Fort, owner of the Democratic newspaper The Federal Union and president of the Central Bank since 1831. As head of both of these positions, it effectively made him the political and financial "dictator" of the Union administration. Dissatisfaction with Fort and his conservative machine caused many Union leaders to desert the governor and support the opposition.[2]
^ abcDubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776 1860: The Official Results By State And County. McFarland. pp. 34–35. ISBN9780786414390.
^ abcdeMurray, Paul. "Party Organization in Georgia Politics 1825-1853". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 29 (4): 200–201 – via JSTOR.
^Scott, Carole E. (2016). "The Troubled World of Antebellum Banking in Georgia" (PDF): 11. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
January 01, 1970
1837, georgia, gubernatorial, election, held, october, 1837, elect, governor, georgia, major, upset, thanks, part, panic, 1837, whig, state, rights, candidate, governor, george, gilmer, beat, incumbent, democratic, union, governor, willam, schley, 1835, octobe. The 1837 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on October 2 1837 to elect the governor of Georgia In a major upset thanks in part to the Panic of 1837 Whig State Rights candidate and Ex Governor George R Gilmer beat incumbent Democratic Union Governor Willam Schley 1 2 1837 Georgia gubernatorial election 1835 October 2 1837 1839 Nominee George R Gilmer William Schley Party Whig Democratic Alliance State Rights Union Party Popular vote 34 181 33 364 Percentage 50 60 49 40 Results by County 1 Gilmer 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 gt 90 Schley 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 gt 90 Governor before election William Schley Democratic Elected Governor George R Gilmer Whig Contents 1 Background 1 1 Panic of 1837 2 Election 3 ReferencesBackground editDuring this time Georgian politics were dominated by two local parties the Union party and the State Rights party The Union party was the product of the forces of liberal democracy that brought white manhood suffrage and popular elections in the 1800s The State Rights party on the other hand was a political anomaly whose conservative politics and organization were more closely related to those of the late 1800s 2 Panic of 1837 edit Main article Panic of 1837 The Panic of 1837 was a major hit to the already weakening Union party as it brought attention to the Union administered Central Bank of Georgia 2 Created in 1828 the state owned bank was the most powerful financial institution in Georgia Upcountry Democrats were supporters of the bank while the Whigs were skeptical of it 3 The panic also highlighted disagreements between the liberal democratic wing of the Union party and the conservative machine element close to Governor Schley The latter of these two groups was led by Tomlinson Fort owner of the Democratic newspaper The Federal Union and president of the Central Bank since 1831 As head of both of these positions it effectively made him the political and financial dictator of the Union administration Dissatisfaction with Fort and his conservative machine caused many Union leaders to desert the governor and support the opposition 2 The State Rights party nominated former Governor George R Gilmer 2 Election edit1837 Georgia gubernatorial election 1 Party Candidate Votes Whig George R Gilmer 34 181 50 60 2 82 Democratic William Schley 33 364 49 40 2 82 Total votes 67 545 100References edit a b c Dubin Michael J 2003 United States Gubernatorial Elections 1776 1860 The Official Results By State And County McFarland pp 34 35 ISBN 9780786414390 a b c d e Murray Paul Party Organization in Georgia Politics 1825 1853 The Georgia Historical Quarterly 29 4 200 201 via JSTOR Scott Carole E 2016 The Troubled World of Antebellum Banking in Georgia PDF 11 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1837 Georgia gubernatorial election amp oldid 1216512147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
