The mayoral election was unusual in that no candidate had entered the race until five days before the day of the election.[3]
The campaign for the municipal elections of 1855 began very early in the year, before any candidates had emerged for the mayoral race. Religious, ethnic, and political leaders debated for weeks on many issues. The race quickly took a nativist tone.[4] Topics included the role of foreigners on night police duty, controversy regarding the city's school fund, bar fights.[4] Debate also arose from the split amongst Democrats around the Kansas–Nebraska Act,[4] which would take an even more prominent role in the following year's election. One of the greatest controversies was about the state legislature's decision to allow a referendum for that June regarding possible prohibition of alcoholic beverages.[4]
Boone received support from a coalition of Know-Nothing and pro-temperance voters.[5] As was typical of his party, Boone's platform was anti-immigrant, anti-alcohol, and anti-catholic.[6][7] Boone had run for mayor once before, having been an unsuccessful candidate in the 1850 mayoral election.[8]
Boone benefitted from an article published by the Chicago Tribune that blamed Milliken for an Irish beer riot and stoked fears by warning, "Every vote given for Milliken is a vote given for whisky, Jesuitism, for Irish rule, for crime and pauperism, and for the ruin of Chicago."[9]
The management of 24 German saloons announced that their establishments would be closed on the day of the election.[3] This was a largely unprecedented move, and received praise from both by the press and from religious leaders.[3]
There were allegations that Irish and German voters from Bridgeport, which was then outside the city limits, were brought in to vote illegally for Milliken.[6]
Boone's victory was also a victory for the burgeoning Know Nothing party, which had been established the previous year.
Despite nearly half of Chicagoans being of foreign origin, Boone had won on a nativist platform.[10]
Privately, Illinois politician (and future United States President) Abraham Lincoln was vehemently opposed to the platform upon which Boone had run; however, he did not publicly denounce it out of concern that doing so would alienate the support he needed in order to build a successful anti-slavery coalition in Illinois and to win the Illinois' United States Senate election three years later.[7]
In his term as mayor, Boone cracked down on immigrants. He barred them from working for the municipal government.[7] He also enforced liquor policies which were perceived to target German immigrants, which led to the Lager Beer Riot.
Referencesedit
^ ab"RaceID=486034". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
^"Mayor Levi Day Boone Biography". www.chipublib.org. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ abcdGoodspeed, Weston A. (February 6, 2017). The History of Cook County, Illinois. Jazzybee Verlag.
^ abcdImmigrants in the Valley: Irish, Germans, and Americans in the Upper Mississippi Country, 1830-1860 Portada Mark Wyman SIU Press, Nov 9, 2016
^Einhorn, Robin (2004). "Lager Beer Riot". Encyclopedia of Chicago. University of Chicago Press. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
^ ab"Bridgeport: Politics". UIC.edu. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
^ abcRichard Lawrence Miller (2012). Lincoln and His World: Volume 4, The Path to the Presidency, 1854–1860. McFarland. pp. 63–4.
^"RaceID=486029". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
^Cowan, Mimi (2015). "Immigrants, Nativists, and the Making of Chicago, 1835-1893" (PDF). Boston College University Libraries. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
1855, chicago, mayoral, election, know, nothing, candidate, levi, boone, defeated, democratic, incumbent, isaac, lawrence, milliken, margin, chicago, mayoral, election, 1855, 1854, march, 1855, 1856, candidate, levi, boone, isaac, lawrence, milliken, party, kn. In the 1855 Chicago mayoral election Know Nothing candidate Levi Boone defeated Democratic incumbent Isaac Lawrence Milliken by a 5 75 margin 1 Chicago mayoral election 1855 1854 March 8 1855 1856 Candidate Levi Boone Isaac Lawrence Milliken Party Know Nothing Democratic Popular vote 3 185 2 839 Percentage 52 87 47 13 Mayor before election Isaac Lawrence Milliken Democratic Elected Mayor Levi Boone Know Nothing The election was held on March 8 2 Contents 1 Campaigning 2 Results 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesCampaigning editThe mayoral election was unusual in that no candidate had entered the race until five days before the day of the election 3 The campaign for the municipal elections of 1855 began very early in the year before any candidates had emerged for the mayoral race Religious ethnic and political leaders debated for weeks on many issues The race quickly took a nativist tone 4 Topics included the role of foreigners on night police duty controversy regarding the city s school fund bar fights 4 Debate also arose from the split amongst Democrats around the Kansas Nebraska Act 4 which would take an even more prominent role in the following year s election One of the greatest controversies was about the state legislature s decision to allow a referendum for that June regarding possible prohibition of alcoholic beverages 4 Boone received support from a coalition of Know Nothing and pro temperance voters 5 As was typical of his party Boone s platform was anti immigrant anti alcohol and anti catholic 6 7 Boone had run for mayor once before having been an unsuccessful candidate in the 1850 mayoral election 8 Boone benefitted from an article published by the Chicago Tribune that blamed Milliken for an Irish beer riot and stoked fears by warning Every vote given for Milliken is a vote given for whisky Jesuitism for Irish rule for crime and pauperism and for the ruin of Chicago 9 The management of 24 German saloons announced that their establishments would be closed on the day of the election 3 This was a largely unprecedented move and received praise from both by the press and from religious leaders 3 There were allegations that Irish and German voters from Bridgeport which was then outside the city limits were brought in to vote illegally for Milliken 6 Results edit1855 Chicago mayoral election 1 3 Party Candidate Votes Know Nothing Levi Boone 3 185 52 87 Democratic Isaac Lawrence Milliken incumbent 2 839 47 13 Turnout 6 024Aftermath editBoone s victory was also a victory for the burgeoning Know Nothing party which had been established the previous year Despite nearly half of Chicagoans being of foreign origin Boone had won on a nativist platform 10 Privately Illinois politician and future United States President Abraham Lincoln was vehemently opposed to the platform upon which Boone had run however he did not publicly denounce it out of concern that doing so would alienate the support he needed in order to build a successful anti slavery coalition in Illinois and to win the Illinois United States Senate election three years later 7 In his term as mayor Boone cracked down on immigrants He barred them from working for the municipal government 7 He also enforced liquor policies which were perceived to target German immigrants which led to the Lager Beer Riot References edit a b RaceID 486034 Our Campaigns Retrieved December 4 2018 Mayor Levi Day Boone Biography www chipublib org Retrieved May 17 2020 a b c d Goodspeed Weston A February 6 2017 The History of Cook County Illinois Jazzybee Verlag a b c d Immigrants in the Valley Irish Germans and Americans in the Upper Mississippi Country 1830 1860 Portada Mark Wyman SIU Press Nov 9 2016 Einhorn Robin 2004 Lager Beer Riot Encyclopedia of Chicago University of Chicago Press Retrieved October 12 2010 a b Bridgeport Politics UIC edu Retrieved December 4 2018 a b c Richard Lawrence Miller 2012 Lincoln and His World Volume 4 The Path to the Presidency 1854 1860 McFarland pp 63 4 RaceID 486029 Our Campaigns Retrieved December 3 2018 Cowan Mimi 2015 Immigrants Nativists and the Making of Chicago 1835 1893 PDF Boston College University Libraries Retrieved May 17 2020 Fabulous Chicago by Emmett Dedmon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1855 Chicago mayoral election amp oldid 1173558709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
