The History of Gerrymandering in U.S. Politics

🎧 Listen to this episode of Lest We Forget History as Lillian Cauldwell explores the history of gerrymandering and how it continues to impact elections today.  🥏 Listen Here   

In today’s episode of Lest We Forget History, Lillian Cauldwell examines the long and complicated history of gerrymandering—the
practice of redrawing voting districts to give one political party an advantage over another. This tactic has been used by multiple parties over the years, reshaping electoral power and influencing outcomes long before voters ever reach the polls.

A recent headline from The Charlotte Observer caught our attention: “I’m furious: Redrawn map sparks competitive race.”
The article reports that North Carolina lawmakers approved new congressional boundaries this fall, significantly altering the
district represented by GOP Rep. Greg Murphy. Similar redistricting efforts have taken place in other states as well.

📌This raises an important question for all of us: Is this practice fair?

In the 1960s, the Supreme Court established legal standards intended to curb extreme partisan redistricting. Yet, as current events show, those protections may not have gone far enough. To help our listeners understand why gerrymandering continues and how it shapes modern elections, we’re taking a step back into history to explore when and why this strategy first emerged—and how it has evolved into the political tool it is today.

Visit our blog at passionateworldtalkradio.com/blog to read the full article and listen to the podcast. Learn what’s happening in your own state and how redistricting may be affecting your community.

We want to hear from you. Do you believe gerrymandering is a fair method of political strategy?
If not, what changes would you suggest to ensure fair and equal elections in America?

Why This Matters
Understanding the history of gerrymandering isn’t just a lesson in political science—it’s a call to civic awareness. As voting maps shift and power structures adapt, each of us has a stake in how representation is shaped. Lillian Cauldwell’s historical deep dive urges us to stay informed, ask questions, and hold systems accountable.

📢 What Do You Think?
Do you believe gerrymandering helps or harms our democracy? Should redistricting be handled differently?
We’d love to hear your thoughts—email us at 📩 pwrnetworkllc@gmail.com.

🎧 Listen to the episode and explore more powerful interviews here: https://passionateworldtalkradio.com/blog

Resource:
How Gerrymandering Began in the US: How Gerrymandering started in the US by Becky Litt