The Virgin Vote
How Young Americans Made Democracy Social, Politics Personal, and Voting Popular in the Nineteenth Century
By Jon Grinspan | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
About the book
There was a time when young people were the most passionate participants in American democracy. In the second half of the nineteenth century — as voter turnout reached unprecedented peaks — young people led the way, hollering, fighting, and flirting at massive midnight rallies. Parents trained their children to be “violent little partisans,” while politicians lobbied twenty-one-year-olds for their “virgin votes”—the first ballot cast upon reaching adulthood. In schoolhouses, saloons, and squares, young men and women proved that democracy is social and politics is personal, earning their adulthood by participating in public life.
Drawing on hundreds of diaries and letters of diverse young Americans — from barmaids to belles, sharecroppers to cowboys — this book explores how exuberant young people and scheming party bosses relied on each other from the 1840s to the turn of the twentieth century. It also explains why this era ended so dramatically and asks if aspects of that strange period might be useful today.
In a vivid evocation of this formative but forgotten world, Jon Grinspan recalls a time when struggling young citizens found identity and maturity in democracy.
Editions of The Virgin Vote
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469627342
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469654744
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890849816
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469627359
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469627366
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890849823
Read an Excerpt
There was a time when young people were the most passionate participants in American democracy. In the second half of the nineteenth century — as voter turnout reached unprecedented peaks — young people led the way, hollering, fighting, and flirting at massive midnight rallies. Parents trained their children to be “violent little partisans,” while politicians lobbied twenty-one-year-olds for their “virgin votes”—the first ballot cast upon reaching adulthood. In schoolhouses, saloons, and squares, young men and women proved that democracy is social and politics is personal, earning their adulthood by participating in public life.
Drawing on hundreds of diaries and letters of diverse young Americans — from barmaids to belles, sharecroppers to cowboys — this book explores how exuberant young people and scheming party bosses relied on each other from the 1840s to the turn of the twentieth century. It also explains why this era ended so dramatically and asks if aspects of that strange period might be useful today.
In a vivid evocation of this formative but forgotten world, Jon Grinspan recalls a time when struggling young citizens found identity and maturity in democracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Virgin Vote about?
There was a time when young people were the most passionate participants in American democracy. In the second half of the nineteenth century — as voter turnout reached unprecedented peaks — young people led the way, hollering, fighting, and flirting at massive midnight rallies. Parents trained their children to be “violent little partisans,” while politicians lobbied twenty-one-year-olds for their “virgin votes”—the first ballot cast upon reaching adulthood. In schoolhouses, saloons, and squares, young men and women proved that democracy is social and politics is personal, earning their adulthood by participating in public life.
Drawing on hundreds of diaries and letters of diverse young Americans — from barmaids to belles, sharecroppers to cowboys — this book explores how exuberant young people and scheming party bosses relied on each other from the 1840s to the turn of the twentieth century. It also explains why this era ended so dramatically and asks if aspects of that strange period might be useful today.
In a vivid evocation of this formative but forgotten world, Jon Grinspan recalls a time when struggling young citizens found identity and maturity in democracy.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Virgin Vote?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of The Virgin Vote?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469627342
How long is The Virgin Vote and how many pages does it have?
The Virgin Vote has 264 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Virgin Vote?
Jon Grinspan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Virgin Vote is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469627342) and paperback(ISBN 9781469654744) and ebook(ISBN 9798890849816) and ebook(ISBN 9781469627359) and ebook(ISBN 9781469627366) and ebook(ISBN 9798890849823)
Where can I buy The Virgin Vote online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Virgin Vote from below
Where can I buy The Virgin Vote?