The Great Revolution of 1840

What it is

This is a 376-page book by A. B. Norton, published in 1888 at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Dallas, Texas. Its subtitle is Reminiscences of the Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign. It covers the 1840 contest in which Gen. William Henry Harrison was elected President over Martin Van Buren. Norton dedicated the book to the Tippecanoe veterans and their descendants. The scanned copy is held by the Internet Archive.

Why it matters

Norton wrote almost fifty years after the campaign, so the book reflects memory and later judgment more than contemporary record. Its preface says the 1840 campaign was remarkable as the first in which women generally took part, promoting the election with their smiles, songs and encouragement. It also says the lines were closely drawn between the people and the office-holders. The book shows how supporters of Harrison, including veterans of the Tippecanoe campaign, wanted their version of the election remembered.

Look closer

• What does the author's dedication to the veterans suggest about whom the book is written for?
• Which claims in the preface could be checked against other sources from 1840?
• How does the book's late date change how much weight its memories deserve?