Change horses? Not a problem!

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The canard, You don't change horses mid-stream, deserves to die swiftly and finally. Towards that end, I'm asking for your help, Dear Reader, in compiling the definitive list of elections or other constitutionally mandated leadership changes that occurred during wartime.

The point, of course, is to show how history does not support the idea that changing leaders (or horses) presents any special risk during wartime. In fact, as discussed in an earlier post about the Peloponnesian Wars, democracy and constitutionalism are important sources of strength for a nation facing the strains and frights of war.

So, without further ado, let's get this list started. Please post any proposed additions or clarifications in the Comments section.

Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BC). Athens continued to elect new generals throughout this on-again, off-again conflict. Sparta, too, selected new kings, navarchs, and other leaders during the war.

Punic Wars (264 to 146 BC). Rome regularly elected new consuls to command the fight against Carthage. The Roman Republic continued this practice through even the worst moments, when Hannibal's army was rampaging through the Italian peninsula.

American Civil War (1861 to 1865). The Union held a presidential election in 1864, in which Lincoln won re-election against McClellan, his Democratic opponent.

World War II (1939 to 1945). President Franklin Roosevelt won re-election in 1944. In 1940, Winston Churchill replaced Nevill Chamberlain as the prime minister of Great Britain.

Cold War (1945 to 1991). The United States, Great Britain, France, and other Western countries continued to hold elections, in spite of the threat of nuclear war.

Koren War (1950 to 1953). In 1952, as US, South Korean, and allied forces fight North Korean and Chinese troops in a brutal war of attrition, American voters select Dwight Eisenhower as the new president.

Vietnam War (1961 to 1973). From the advisory period in the early 1960s to the eventual withdrawal of combat troops, the United States continued to hold presidential elections. Additionally, the Watergate scandal ended with the re-affirmation of free and fair elections, as well as constitutional checks and balances.

Comments

[Alex]

From Britain alone: 1899(?) - Khaki Election, Lord Salisbury's Tory government increases its majority over the Liberals in the middle of the Boer war. 1915 - Asquith's Liberal government falls as Churchill is fired, reorganised as 1st Coalition. 1916 - 1st Coalition rousted, Asquith is replaced by Lloyd George and 2nd Coalition government with added Churchill. Coalition re-elected 1918, continues to 1922.

1942 - Parliamentary vote of no confidence in Churchill (Grand Coalition) government. After initial build-up, it looks like the motion will be pulled, but Churchill asks a Tory back bencher to table it anyway so as to get it out in the open. Two-day Commons debate on the government's conduct of the war, held in closed session for security reasons, ends with the motion's overwhelming (~400 to 1) defeat.

1982 - Foreign Secretary Carrington resigns after Argentine invasion of the Falklands, taking responsibility for failure to predict the crisis or realise that the decision to scrap HMS Endurance was seen as a sign of weakness.

1990 - After Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and start of British deployment to Saudi Arabia, Margaret Thatcher is dismissed as Conservative party leader. John Major becomes prime minister..

[DC Walker]

In Australia there have several changes of government during war.

In 1901, at the same time as participating in the Boer War, Australia moved from being six self-governing colonies to a federal state, including the first national election, the establishment of a national parliament and an independent judiciary.

During World War II, John Curtin(Labor Party) replaced Arthur Fadden(Country Party/United Australia Party coalition) after the 1941 general election. Robert Menzies was the leader of the Coalition at the time of the election and, when defeated by Curtin, attempted govern with a minority, but resigned when the Labor Party refused to participate in a 'national government', leaving the leadership to Fadden. Then when Curtin died in July 1945, he was replaced according to parliamentary custom and Labor Party internal vote by the then Treasurer, Ben Chifley.

During the Vietnam War Gough Whitlam(Labor Party) defeated William McMahon(Liberal Party/Country Party coalition) in the 1972 Federal Election.

Although it did not involve a change of government the Conscription referendums of 1916 and 1917 deserve a mention. Fought on a proposal by the Government to start conscripting men for the depleted Australian Imperial Force - up until this time it had been a purely volunteer army. The two national referendums severly split Australian society into pro and anti camps, whose members covered the whole political and social spectrum. As can be imagined, there was a great deal of acrimonious debate on both sides, before the proposal was twice defeated. In spite of this split, Australia maintained its commitment to the Allied effort. As a matter of interest, the vast majority of soldiers on the front lines voted against conscription.

[Nike SB Dunk]

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[louis vuitton]

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