Timeline
1840 "Modern" Presidential Campaign
While Arkansas could not fulfill the Spanish explorers' dreams of gold, other explorers
found different valuables from the earth. Early in the year the Gazette announced the discovery of
anthracite coal in northwest Arkansas. By the end of the year, the Spadra Coal Company was
in operation.
Nationally, the Whig campaign for the presidency keyed on personalities rather than
issues. "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too" was the slogan of the "log cabin and hard cider
campaign," which featured placards, emblems, campaign hats, huge rallies and log cabin floats.
William Henry Harrison, the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe against the Shawnee Indians, was
pictured as a simple man born in a log cabin, opposing the aristocratic Martin Van Buren.
Arkansas Whigs attempted the same kind of campaign. In Little Rock, a log cabin and liberty
pole were raised by the Whigs who appeared to have strong support, at least as long as they were
serving hard cider. At the culmination of a statewide convention, more than 1,000 Whigs
gathered at the Arsenal grounds to listen to campaign speeches for Harrison.
Arkansas, still solidly Democratic, voted for Van Buren, while nationally Harrison and
Tyler won. The local Whigs conceded the governor's race and the Democrat, Yell, won without
opposition. Cross was reelected to Congress.
Little Rock's new fire engine proved of little use without hooks, ladders and trained
firemen as fire destroyed a half-block of downtown on April 26. Luck and a recent rain were
credited for saving the surrounding area. Less than two months later Little Rock was hit by a
violent tornado which destroyed or damaged businesses, residences and steamboats. The offices
of the new Whig newspaper, the Arkansas Star, especially suffered from the storm.
In a desperate and technically illegal, action, the Real Estate Bank sold its last 500 bonds at reduced value to raise the money to pay interest on its other bonds and to meet
further obligations. Because the bonds were discounted, they brought only $121,336 instead of
$500,000. These bonds were then sold to an innocent third party. The legal problems produced
by these "Holford bonds" extended beyond the Civil War.
| 1841 Population Growth >
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