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"These Whigs are Singing Songs Again!" Whig Songs as Campaign Literature Prior to the 1844 Presidential Race

Whig campaign strategists in the presidential election of 1840 developed new campaign tactics that included widespread use of campaign songs. They used these songs to sing the praises of their own candidate and policies while at the same time attacking the opposing party's candidate and policies.
As early as 1842 these songwriters began writing songs in anticipation of the campaign in 1844. Prior to the nomination of candidates in May, 1844, the Whigs had published several songbooks including hundreds of song titles. In addition to supporting the candidacy of Henry Clay as the Whig candidate, the songs ridiculed several potential Democratic candidates including Martin Van Buren, John C. Calhoun, James Buchanan, and others. Whigs also used imagery to support their candidate and attack the foe.
Despite extensive efforts to influence the election with campaign songs, no hard evidence exists that documents the effect of campaign songs, either positively or negatively.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc277889
Date05 1900
CreatorsPage, James A. (James Allen), 1946-
ContributorsSeligmann, Gustav L., Smallwood, J. B., Kamman, William
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatiii, 142 leaves, Text
CoverageUnited States, 1844
RightsPublic, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved., Page, James A. (James Allen), 1946-

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