When we hear about a stump speech today, it means a candidate's standard, and boring, campaign speech. But in the 19th century the phrase meant something much more colorful.First of all, stump speeches got their name because candidates did literally stand atop tree stumps. Though a dictionary from the 1840s helpfully noted that stump speeches might also be delivered from atop a whiskey barrel.
These were not polite political addresses like someone might hear in the cities. The characteristics of a stump speech would have included humor, boasting, and insults against opponents.
Delivering a rollicking performance on the stump was a necessary political skill in some regions. And for decades a story was told about the day Abraham Lincoln earned his reputation as a devastating stump speaker in the 1830s.
It's a shame that the phrase now describes purposely ordinary political speeches. In the early 19th century, stump speeches were some of the best entertainment around.
Read the full article: Definition of Stump Speech
Illustration: Detail of 1852 lithograph which depicted "stumping"/Library of Congress
Connect on Facebook: AboutHistory1800s
Follow on Twitter: @History1800s
No comments:
Post a Comment