Donkeys vs. Elephants

I sometimes wonder what Abraham Lincoln would have to say about the two major political parties today.

"The old gray elephant, it ain't what it used to be"?

The shifting of allegiance between political parties was much more common during the 19th century than it is today. It took several years for political parties as we know them today to coalesce after the founding of the United States, and many parties formed and fell apart rapidly.

The Democratic Party (1828) is the oldest political party in the United States and one of the oldest grass-roots parties in the world. The Democratic party was a proponent for farmers across the country, urban workers, and new immigrants. It advocated westward expansion, greater equality among all white men, and opposition to a national bank.

The Republican Party emerged in 1854 from the former Whig Party to combat the Kansas Nebraska Act, which threatened to extend slavery into the territories, and to promote more vigorous modernization of the economy.

The Republican Party was based on northern white Protestants, businessmen, small business owners, professionals, factory workers, farmers, and African-Americans. It was pro-business, supporting banks, the gold standard, railroads, and tariffs to protect industrial workers and industry. 

The shift in parties began in the second half of the 20th century - the southern states from Democratic to Republican, and New England and the West Coast states from Republican to Democratic.
 
African Americans, who had traditionally given strong support to the Republican Party since its inception as the "anti-slavery party," shifted to the Democratic Party, largely due to the economic opportunities offered by the New Deal relief programs in 1933-1938, and the advocacy of and support for civil rights by such prominent Democrats as former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Which makes me think this quote:

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant.
An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!"

― Dr. Seuss, Horton Hatches the Egg

Hmm, maybe I need to go time traveling with Horton....

This Week in the Civil War: April 28, 1863

Battle of Chancellorsville, wounding of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Warmer weather after the winter brings renewed fighting at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia 150 years ago this week in the Civil War. Union generals attempt to crumple in Confederate lines near the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers close to Fredericksburg. Ultimately the Union forces line up against Confederate rivals near Chancellorsville, Va., on April 30, 1863. Union forces advance and fighting opens May 2, 1863, with a Confederate attack organized by its supreme general, Robert E. Lee. In the fierce combat that ensues, the Southern rebels smash through the Union line for a Confederate victory. Thought Lee gained a major victory, one of his greatest fighters, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, was wounded by friendly fire in the din and confusion of battle May 2. Jackson died several days later on May 10, 1863. His remains were taken to Richmond, seat of the Confederacy, for a final tribute before burial. For the Confederacy, the loss of Jackson was a stinging blow.

 

Let's do the twist

Pippaloo

Happy National Pretzel Day!

(I almost forgot, but a post at Doll Diaries reminded me.)

Most accounts agree that pretzels have Christian backgrounds and were invented by monks, with references dating back to 610 A.D. 

German and Swiss German immigrants (who became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch) introduced the pretzel to North America in the 19th century.

Soft pretzels became extremely popular in other regions of the United States in the 20th century, and cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York became renowned for their soft pretzels.

They particularly became iconic with Philadelphia and was established as a cuisine of Philadelphia for snacking at school, work, or home, and considered by most to be a quick meal.

The average Philadelphian today consumes about 12 times as many pretzels as the national average - and the average American consumes about 1.5 pounds of pretzels per year!

In fact, Philadelphia opened a soft pretzel museum in 1993, and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared April 26, 2003 National Pretzel Day to acknowledge the importance of the pretzel to the state's history and economy.

Yikes! As a proud Philadelphian, I better order more pretzels from Pippaloo!