Changes

In the '''1884 presidential election''', [[Democratic Party]] candidate [[Grover Cleveland]] ran against the [[Republican]] candidate, [[James G. Blaine]]. Both parties used "army" style campaigns designed to maximize turnout of their loyal supporters. Few men were independents, although an informal group of "[[Mugwumps]]" emerged to protest the Republican candidate.<ref name="Summers">Summers, Mark Wahlgren. ''Rum, Romanism and Rebellion: The Making of a President, 1884.'' (2000), 326pp; the standard scholarly history  [http://www.questia.com/read/104865169?title=Rum%2c%20Romanism%20%26%20Rebellion%3a%20%20The%20Making%20of%20a%20President%2c%201884 online edition]</ref>

In the '''1884 presidential election''', [[Democratic Party]] candidate [[Grover Cleveland]] ran against the [[Republican]] candidate, [[James G. Blaine]]. Both parties used "army" style campaigns designed to maximize turnout of their loyal supporters. Few men were independents, although an informal group of "[[Mugwumps]]" emerged to protest the Republican candidate.<ref name="Summers">Summers, Mark Wahlgren. ''Rum, Romanism and Rebellion: The Making of a President, 1884.'' (2000), 326pp; the standard scholarly history  [http://www.questia.com/read/104865169?title=Rum%2c%20Romanism%20%26%20Rebellion%3a%20%20The%20Making%20of%20a%20President%2c%201884 online edition]</ref>

As the election grew near, it appeared that because of his relative experience, Blaine was pulling ahead of his rival. Some of this advantage was also due to Blaine's efforts at forming inroads into the Irish Catholic vote, which was typically 95% in support of the Democratic Party. A Protestant minister by the name of Samuel Dickinson Burchard was assisting with this effort, especially in New York City.<ref name="Reminiscences of the family">Reminiscences of the family, especially with the reference to the author of Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion, by Anna T. Burchard.</ref>

As the election grew near, it appeared that because of his relative experience, Blaine was pulling ahead of his rival. Some of this advantage was also due to Blaine's efforts at forming inroads into the Irish Catholic vote, which was typically 95% in support of the Democratic Party. A Protestant minister by the name of Samuel Dickinson Burchard was assisting with this effort, especially in New York City.<ref name="Reminiscences of the family">Reminiscences of the family, especially with the reference to the author of Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion, by Anna T. Burchard (Samuel's daughter-in-law).</ref>

==Rum, romanism, and misinformation==

==Rum, romanism, and misinformation==

==Results==

==Results==

[[File:Presidential election 1884 by county Color.gif|thumbnail|350px|Election results (Blue = Cleaveland, Red = Blaine, [[:File:Presidential election 1884 by county Color.gif|click for details]])]]

[[File:Presidential election 1884 by county Color.gif|thumbnail|350px|Election results (Blue = Cleaveland, Red = Blaine, [[:File:Presidential election 1884 by county Color.gif|click for details]])]]

The result of this election was that Grover Cleveland won his first term as president for 1885 to 1889, and succeeded [[Chester Arthur]].  In four years, he would be beaten by [[Benjamin Harrison]], only to be reelected for his second term in 1892, making him the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms.  This election also had a couple other results.  First, it proved that misinformation (or "fake news") can be used to turn something as significant as a presidential election.  Another result was that this same misinformation had worked its way into history books, and even at least one book published on the specific topic.<ref name="Summers">Summers, Mark Wahlgren. ''Rum, Romanism and Rebellion: The Making of a President, 1884.'' (2000), 326pp; the standard scholarly history  [http://www.questia.com/read/104865169?title=Rum%2c%20Romanism%20%26%20Rebellion%3a%20%20The%20Making%20of%20a%20President%2c%201884 online edition]</ref>

The result of this election was that Grover Cleveland won his first term as president for 1885 to 1889, and succeeded [[Chester Arthur]].  In four years, he would be beaten by [[Benjamin Harrison]], only to be reelected for his second term in 1892, making him the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms.  This election also had a couple other results.  First, it proved that misinformation (or "fake news") can be used to turn something as significant as a presidential election.  Another result was that this same misinformation had worked its way into history books, and even at least one book published on the specific topic.<ref name="Summers">Summers, Mark Wahlgren. ''Rum, Romanism and Rebellion: The Making of a President, 1884.'' (2000), 326pp; the standard scholarly history  [http://www.questia.com/read/104865169?title=Rum%2c%20Romanism%20%26%20Rebellion%3a%20%20The%20Making%20of%20a%20President%2c%201884 online edition]</ref><ref name="Reminiscences of the family">Reminiscences of the family, especially with the reference to the author of Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion, by Anna T. Burchard (Samuel's daughter-in-law).</ref>

==References==

==References==