answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The term is derived from Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts governor who redrew the districts in his State to favor his party. One district looked like a snake stretched across the State, so a political cartoonist added claws, wings, and teeth to it and called it a "gerrymander."

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 13y ago

The term "gerrymander" was first used in the "Boston Gazette" newspaper on March 26, 1812. (Happy 99th Birthday!) The Massachusetts governor at the time, Elbridge Gerry, signed a bill that redistricted the state to benefit his Democratic-Republican party. One of the districts in the state was thought to have a shape like a salamander, hence the term gerrymander!

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 9y ago

This term was named after E. Gerry, the governor of Massachusetts, whose party redistricted the state in 1812. plus (sala)mander, from the supposed resemblance of the map of Essex County, MA., to this animal, after the redistricting occurred.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is the origin term of gerrymander?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about American Government

What are the limits of gerrymander?

In this country, there are NO limits! Do what you want!


Why do political parties sometimes gerrymander their districts?

to increase their voting strength


Which of the following is the best definition of gerrymander?

A gerrymander is an oddly shaped district design to increase the voting strength of a particular party. The name comes from salamander-shaped districts drawn up the influence of one Elbridge Gerry , a governor of Massachusetts. As a verb it means to draw up gerrymander districts. Gerrymandering tends to occur after each census which changes the number of Congressional districts in a state. States also need to change their own legislative distrcts from to time to time due to shifts in population and the new districts may be gerrymandered to help the party in power. The idea is to study past voting records and create as many districts as possible with a slight but solid majority for the controling party. It may be necessary to have some "lost" districts to which as many opposing voters as possible are placed.


What is an oddly shaped district designed to increase one groups voting strength?

A Gerrymander is an oddly shaped district that is designed to increase the voting strength and power of one political party at the expense of another. As a result of the manipulation of district boundaries, the shape of political map becomes altered and distorted.


11 letter word for Rearranging voting areas to benefit one party?

If this is in the Times crossowrd, try ending the across word in 'g' and you will find the down answer is 'Gerrymander'