Introduction: Mapping the First Party System
The Mapping Elections project turns records of electoral returns into maps of voting patterns.
Political Parties in the Early Republic
The early republic’s nascent political parties evolved and coalesced around differing visions of America.
Electing Members of Congress in the Early Republic
Early American elections featured widely varying and often questionable electoral practices.
Democracy and the Importance of Voter Turnout
Voter turnout in early elections was sizeable and motivated by substantive debates on key issues.
Congressional Incumbency in the Early Republic
Early congresses featured high turnover rates due to the republic's political culture and personal hardships.
Maryland's Political Geography in the Early Republic
Maryland's geography created a unique political culture informed by an extreme aura of localism.
