Posts Tagged ‘Structure’

One might say the 1864 election was determined by the ability to distill a message to its very essence. 

Abraham Lincoln was part of a three-way race against George McClellan and John C. Freemont. The electoral vote would be spread across three viable contenders, making each state’s vote critical. And the then-territory of Nevada was set to vote for Lincoln… IF they could become a state in time for the election. 

Nevada approved their state constitution on September 7, 1864 and (to insure at least one would be received) sent two copies to Washington, D.C.: one by boat (by way of San Francisco and Panama) and the other by stagecoach and train. The transit time would take between 20 and 25 days. Alas, word came back via telegraph on October 25^th that neither missive had reached the capitol. 

To be admitted to the union in time for the election—now less than two weeks away—they’d have to transmit the state constitution (175 handwritten pages!) by telegraph.