1864: Pro-Slavery Agenda - "Cheat to Defeat" the Re-Election of Abraham Lincoln

A million Union soldiers are fighting in the Civil War and, for the first time in US history, they are offered military absentee ballots. That single change raises a blunt question: when you move voting away from the ballot box and into tents, hospitals, and paperwork, who protects the soldier’s voice?We walk through the high-stakes election of 1864, when Abraham Lincoln is trying to win re-election while promising a constitutional end to slavery through the 13th Amendment. Along the way, we look at the political pressure around the “Peace Party” narrative, George McClellan’s candidacy, and why the soldier vote is seen as a prize worth controlling. Then the story turns to Baltimore, where a military court investigates a plot tied to New York troops and allegations of “checkerboarding” ballots, forged signatures, and votes cast under names that should never have appeared, including wounded men who cannot respond and soldiers who are already dead.We also point to the paper trail the episode cites, including the court proceedings and a New York Times headline from October 1864 describing election frauds and admitted forgery. Finally, we step back and ask what it could have meant if Lincoln had lost: not just a different election night, but a different constitutional future for the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and the civil rights foundations that follow.If you care about American history, Civil War politics, election integrity, and military voting, listen closely, share this with someone who loves primary sources, and subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the show.• 1864 political stakes around slavery, the Civil War, and Lincoln’s re-election• Why Northern states debate furlough voting versus absentee voting for Union troops• Claims of “checkerboarding” ballots and forging signatures for active, wounded, and dead soldiers• Orville Wood’s role in reporting alleged fraud and testifying as a key witness• Baltimore military court proceedings and the New York Times coverage• Final election results and the soldier vote figures cited• What-if scenario for the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments if Lincoln losesplease hit the like or subscribeSupport the showPlease also visit "Mercer Moments in American History" at our YouTube Channel!  We are dedicated to:Bible and Worship, IMPACT on History of Judeo-Christian Values, Current Events and Major Moments in American History that for some reason are now erased, deleted from our textbooks and classrooms.