Election Day is fast approaching! On November 5, voters will cast their ballots to elect the next President of the United States. In the spirit of this historic day, we wanted to share some fascinating election history.
1. During the time of the American Revolution, people baked Election Day cakes. Women in New England created this special cake to encourage men to vote (women were not allowed to vote at this time). After a voter turned in his ballot, he might receive a slice of cake. While recipes varied, the cake often included flour, butter, sugar, whisky or brandy, dried fruit, and eggs. These fruit-filled cakes were popular from the late eighteenth to the nineteenth century.
Illustration of a colonial New England kitchen by H.W. Pierce. Image credit: Library of Congress.
2. In 1845, Congress decided voting day would be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. They picked this day because it was after the busy harvest season but before the winter weather began. Congress wanted people to get out and vote before the snow and ice made it difficult to travel.
3. The word “ballot” comes from the Italian word ballotta, meaning “small ball.” In medieval Venice, people used small colored or marked balls to vote. Today, the word “ballot” refers to the many different ways people cast their vote–whether it’s using a ball, a piece of paper, or a touchscreen.
Image of a ballot box with “ballottas.”
Image credit: National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution.
4. According to the Constitution, a person can run for president if they meet three requirements. They must be at least 35 years old, have lived in the U.S. for 14 years, and be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.
5. The first seven presidents were born as British subjects. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson had all been born before the United States gained independence from Great Britain. Martin Van Buren was the first natural-born American to become president in 1837.
Martin Van Buren. Image credit: Library of Congress.
6. Frederick Douglass was the first African American to run for U.S. president. The famed abolitionist, orator, and writer became a presidential candidate in 1848. This was at a time when slavery was still legal, and Douglass and his fellow Black Americans did not have the right to vote.
7. Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for U.S. president. She was also the first female stockbroker on Wall Street. Woodhull joined the presidential race in 1872. At 34 years old, she was technically too young to run for president but her campaign would make its mark on history.
Left: Frederick Douglass. Image credit: Library of Congress. Right: Victoria Woodhull. Image credit: Wikipedia.
We hope you enjoyed these election facts! Maybe you’ll even be inspired to bake an Election Day cake to celebrate the big day. And if you're looking for more fun facts from history, don't forget to check out our kids magazine.