1784 Gubernatorial Election: Hancock vs Everybody 2
THE FOLLOWING CONTEST, SCHEDULED FOR ONE TERM IS FOR THE 1784 MASSACHUSETTS GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION! INTRODUCING FIRST....HE IS THE CURRENT....REIGNING...DEFENDING....UNDISPUTED GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS....JOHNNNNNNNN HANCOCK!
AND HIS OPPONENT......EVERYBODY......AGAIN! Yes, just like the previous year, Hancock would be facing a bunch of write-ins. But what was going on in the country heading into the 1784 election? As mentioned here, Congress approved of the Treaty of Paris in September of 1783 to effectively end the Revolutionary War. John Jay, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were the dignitaries from the Unitd States to sign the treaty. The last of the British troops set sail back home on November 25th, known as evacuation day.
On November 3rd, the Continental Army formally disbanded. On December 23rd, General George Washington sent in resignation to Congress to retire to his estate in Mount Vernon. His services would be called upon again in good time, but for now he was going to go home, relax and light up a fat one.
So what about Massachusetts? In February of 1784, the first state wide bank known as Massachusetts Bank was established. The charter was signed by Governor Hancock and some of its first clients were copper mogul Paul Revere, Continental army general Henry Knox and radical lawyer Samuel Adams.
Now for the election. Just like last year, the mighty Hancock would not have just one singular challenger since James Bowdoin and Thomas Cushing were both routed between 170-82. Another factor was once again, Hancock came to the aid of the state. When European merchants refused to trade with Americans following the Revolutionary War, the federal government wanted more trade with hard currency. Since the rural areas in the boondocks had no hard currency, you can see where this would be a problem. Hancock stood on the balcony of the State House and told the tax collectors to leave the poor alone. He also refused to press charges on the delinquents not paying taxes. After all, they just fought a damn near 10 year war to get rid of British occupancy, why start paying taxes all over again? Because Hancock fought for the regular guy, it was a shoe-in he'd be re-elected, right? Let's find out.
Once again.....ITS A LANDSLIDE! Hancock took 67% of the votes with 5,160 of them while the write-ins took 33 percent of the votes with just 2,471 of them. Hancock would continue to reign supreme but there was something going on that would end it. When the federal government started cracking down on serious issues, it was apparent Hancock wasn't going to deal with them like a leader should. Even during the Revolutionary War, he was more of a sideline coach than he was in the fields like a George Washington or James Monroe. As issues popped up from 1784 into 1785, Hancock decided he wanted to leave with his dignity intact, but that's a story for another day. As of now, Hancock is now 5 for 5 in elections.
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