The Top Ten Political Conventions That Mattered the Most

“Will there be a virtual balloon-drop? That is about the only intrigue left when it comes to what will happen at this year’s national political conventions”

As the two parties shift their conventions to be mostly virtual, we look at those conventions that made a difference in the country’s political history…

1831 Anti-Masonic Convention—Why start with one of the most obscure third parties in American history? Because they invented nominating conventions. The Anti-Masons, who feared the growing political and financial power of the secret society of Freemasons, formed in upstate New York; among their members was future president Millard Fillmore.

Read the full piece in Smithsonian magazine