Share this page!

Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture
Twitter logo
Dec 1 • 3 tweets • 1 min read
Just found a Jefferson quote from after the election of 1800:

If the Federalists tried to usurp the government (steal the election) he was "w/those who were determined not to permit it. because that precedent once set, would be artificially reproduced, & end soon in a dictator.”
There you have it.

If the Federalists had successfully declared a President pro tem (as they were discussing) rather than concede to the outcome of the presidential election, Jefferson and others knew full well that this was a sure pathway to dictatorship.

#HistoryMatters
For those asking for the source of the Jefferson quote about stolen elections and dictators:
founders.archives.gov/?q=Author%3A%2…

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social)

Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @jbf1755

Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture
Nov 23
1/ Just recorded a webcast episode on generational change in American politics--inspired by Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Jim Clyburn and others stepping aside as leaders in Congress, and Hakeem Jeffries and others stepping forward.
2/ It's easy to see generational change in the past (the post-Founding 1820s generation, anyone?). It's easy to underestimate it in the present.
Now is a moment to watch for patterns of change--to consider implications and interventions before things become set in place.
3/ In the 1820s, the Founding generation was passing. The next definable generation to arrive on the scene? Andrew Jackson heralded its arrival. A total, radical sea change in the culture, tone, and organization of politics, and the nation.
Let's see what we've got coming next.
Read 4 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture
Nov 12
1/ So…in the same way that the DJT presidency revealed the profound vulnerabilities of “norms,” the erosion of Twitter is revealing a vulnerability of democracy.
2/ It certainly isn’t THE public square. But it has acted as an important one.

I’ve been saying for quite some time that we’re in the midst of a crisis of “we.”

For better and worse—sometimes much worse—Twitter was a “we”-creator.
3/ It has been a place where groups can talk and cohere and plan.

Sometimes, the outcome of that has been VERY ugly.

But sometimes, it has forged community in a positive sense.
Read 6 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture
Nov 10
Some #Midterms2022 Election Lessons:
A Thread

1. We really need to rethink how we—and how others—use polling data. Sometimes it’s not aimed at reporting. It’s an attempt to persuade—an electoral strategy—more than anything else.

For more: cafe.com/now-and-then/p…
2. The youth vote matters. A lot.
3. The press should do more reporting and less predicting.
Read 6 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture
Oct 23
THIS THIS THIS

The party in power often loses in the midterm, unless there’s a major issue or event with sweeping (and in this case deadly) repercussions.

The overturning of Roe.
Republicans know this.

They removed anti-choice statements from campaign websites.

As the thread below states, they distracted us w/planes of asylum seekers sent to other states—this election’s “caravans.”
(“Non-white people coming to get us”—a visceral non-fail prod for some)
They’re banking on “women are the weaker sex” nonsense to defuse righteous anger at rights removed, and give men on the right a sense of righteousness of their own.
Read 7 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture
Sep 1
This is what I'm interested to see--how Biden's address balances the dire need to discuss threats vs democracy vs how it deals w/issues of partisanship

They're related but not identical

Having a president directly address the preservation of American democracy is a big event.
It will be important to consider who he's talking about, when he talks about "MAGA Republicans" but not Republicans as a whole.
I do think--& have said many times- that we need to step back from the assumption that everything will be fine in the end.

We don't know that.
We don't know how this will end.
I'm not simply spouting off when I say that democracy is at risk.

It is.

We HAVE to protect it.
Read 29 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755@mastodon.social) Profile picture
Aug 1
1/ A few words on honor and the founders -- that relate to politics today. (Trust me.)

Elite men in early America DID worry about their honor - a combination of their reputation and their "value" as men -- particularly, public men (i.e. politicians).
2/ The fact that the founders--generally--worried about their honor DOESN'T mean that they were all honorable.

It means they were focused on their reputations & the public impact of their actions.

In a way, worrying about your honor is selfish; it's about you protecting you.
3/ The importance of a practical focus on honor had an impact on early American politics that's counterintuitive.

Public minded men (politicos) worried about their honor/reputation/identity in others' eyes.

Which means...they assumed they were accountable for their actions.
Read 7 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Send Email!

:(