Jackson's Address at the Convention

Factual Questions
1

Last night at the Democratic convention Jesse Jackson can be quoted as saying the following:

“One vote decided that America would speak English rather than German in 1776. One vote kept Aaron Burr, later charged with treason, from becoming our president. One vote made Texas part of the United States of America in 1845. One vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic. “

But I found:

The U.S. House of Representatives accepted the Texas State Constitution on December 16, 1845 by a vote of 141-16. The U.S. Senate accepted it on December 22, 1845 by a vote of 31-14. U.S. President Tyler signed the act on December 29, 1845, officially making Texas the 28th state of the United States.

One Vote?

And:

The French Revolution of 1789
The first phase of the Revolution was marked by moral and physical violence. The States-General met in 1789 in Versailles but were paralyzed by the refusal of the Third Estate (the Commons) to meet separately as a distinct, inferior body. On June 17 the Commons took the crucial revolutionary step of declaring their assembly to be the National Assembly, thereby destroying the States-General. This first assertion of the sovereign authority of the nation soon inspired a popular rising in Paris, marked by the storming of the Bastille on July 14. Concurrently, urban and rural revolts occurred throughout France. Suspicions generated by the political crisis had aggravated the discontent aroused by the failure of the 1788 harvest and an exceptionally severe winter. The peasants pillaged and burned the chateaus of the aristocracy–an episode known as the Grande Peur (“Great Fear”)–destroying the records of their manorial dues.

1848, French revolution that overthrew the monarchy of LOUIS PHILIPPE and established the Second Republic.

Was this revolution voted on?

OK Aaron Burr vs. Jefferson for president was deadlocked at 73 votes and the final vote was cast in the House.

I am unable to find information about German being considered the official language in 1776. This does not make any sense to me.

I’m just trying to find out if his facts are strait.

2

The myth that one vote made English the official language of the U.S. has been debunked several times, most eloquently and authoritatively by Cecil (who else? :smiley: ). Search his column archives; it’s bound to be in there somewhere. To paraphrase: the decision had to do with translating federal laws into German in Pennsylvania. It was a local matter, and the vote was merely a procedural vote on whether or not to postpone the matter.

As for the rest of Jackson’s statements – I think way can say confidently that Jesse Jackson is, to put it politely, full of sh*t.

Thank you.

3

As usual, the Reverand is full of crap. Here’s what Cecil has to say.

4

The annexation of Texas was achieved by each house of Congress passing a resolution. The House and Senate versions were different. A senator proposed that President Tyler be given the option of choosing the resolution he liked best.
The vote on that passed 27-25.

That’s about the only one vote margin I could find on the issue.

5

“One person can make a difference, but most of the time they probably shouldn’t”- Marge Simpson

6

Gosh you guys for a minute there, I was afraid I was the only one who felt this way!