Digest of Election Cases: contested elections in the House, 1865–1871, summarized for quick reference.
This reference work compiles how election disputes were handled in the early years after the Civil War. It presents the issues, testimony, and outcomes that shaped which candidates won seats in the House of Representatives. The material centers on the arguments, evidence, and procedures used to resolve contested elections during the Fortieth and Forty-First Congresses, offering a window into 19th‑century election law and governance.
Readers will get a concise view of each case’s core facts, the legal questions raised, and the resolutions adopted by the committee and the House. The digest highlights patterns in handling disputed ballots, precinct validity, and certification, without going into the full courtroom detail.
- Plain summaries of key cases and their outcomes.
- Notes on the procedural steps used to reach a decision.
- Context on the political and legal framework of postwar elections.
- Cross-references to related disputes and the broader history of election contests.
Ideal for students, historians, and readers seeking a compact overview of how contested elections were addressed in this pivotal era.
Professor David Bartlett is Head of Prosthodontics at Kings College London Dental Institute. His research interest in tooth wear, particularly dental erosion, began with his PhD completed in 1995 which investigated the relationship between reflux disease and dental erosion. David has published over 70 research articles on dental erosion and other restorative subjects in National and International dental and medical journals. He has supervised four PhD's, 20 MSc's and been successfully awarded nearly half a million pounds in grant income. David has written three books and a number of chapters on prosthodontics.