Barnburners

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Barnburners

Barnburners radical element of the Democratic party in New York state from 1842 to 1848, opposed to the conservative Hunkers . The name derives from the fabled Dutchman who burned his barn to rid it of rats; by implication, the Barnburners would destroy corporations and public works to do away with the abuses they foster. Among their leaders were C. C. Cambreleng, Silas Wright , Azariah C. Flagg , and Samuel J. Tilden . Opposed to the extension of slavery, the Barnburners seceded from the Democratic state organization when the Hunkers captured the state convention at Syracuse in 1847. Refused recognition at the Democratic national convention of 1848, they nominated Martin Van Buren for President and endorsed the Free-Soil party candidate, Charles Francis Adams (1807-86), for Vice President. Largely because of this Democratic split, the Whig candidate, Zachary Taylor, defeated the regular Democrat, Lewis Cass . After 1848 some Barnburners joined the Free-Soilers, who merged with the new Republican party; others returned to the Democratic party.

Bibliography: See H. D. A. Donovan, The Barnburners (1925).

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barn

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Â© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

barn barn burner in North American usage, a very exciting or dramatic event, especially a sports contest. Barnburner was also the name for an adherent of a section of the Democratic Party in New York State in the 1840s, whose zeal for reform was so intense that it was said that they were prepared to ‘burn the barn to get rid of the rats’.

See also Robin Hood's barn at Robin.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "barn." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "barn." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-barn.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "barn." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-barn.html

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