Historedia
Episode 3 of 3

Spread of the term through Federalist newspapers

When
rest of 1812
Where
Federalist newspapers across Massachusetts, New England, and nationwide
Part of
Gerrymandering term coined in the Boston Gazette

Throughout the rest of 1812, the word gerrymander was reprinted numerous times in Federalist newspapers in Massachusetts, New England, and nationwide.

Following its first appearance in the Boston Gazette, the word gerrymander was reprinted numerous times in Federalist newspapers in Massachusetts, New England, and nationwide for the rest of 1812, carrying the mockery of the Essex County senate district's salamander-like shape beyond Boston.

Sources

  1. Gerrymandering Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-21
  2. Elbridge Gerry Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-23

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.