Election Day and the 5th of November

This year, the Fifth of November will be known only as Election Day. However, before the concept of a presidential election was even a thought, and before the Founding Fathers who had the idea were even born, there was a government that did not give thought to the ideas of its citizens regarding the leadership of the country.

This government was the Houses of Parliament in England under the rule of King James I. The main criticism about King James I was his refusal to grant more religious toleration to Catholics. This prompted a group of Roman Catholics to take revenge on November 5th, 1605 by blowing up Parliament in hopes to kill King James I, as well as his ministers and members of Parliament. The hope was that the confusion of the attack would help the English Catholics to take over the country.

The members of this group included Robert Catesby, Thomas Winter, Thomas Percy, John Wright, and Guy Fawkes. Guy Fawkes went on to be the name that most remembered when thinking about the attack (known as the Gunpowder Plot). His name and looks inspired modern ideas such as the Guy Fawkes Mask, as shown above (which later became the face as the hacker group known as Anonymous), and the graphic novel and movie V for Vendetta. In addition, the date of the Gunpowder Plot became called Guy Fawkes Day by some English citizens.

If it is not known simply by the presence of the buildings today, the Gunpowder Plot failed, and the Houses of Parliament are still standing. England is still under the same monarchy system, but with a developed Prime Minister position in the government in 1721.

The American government, since its formation in 1789, has kept the same structure of a democratic republic.

In the modern era, it feels odd to put those words right next together in the same sentence, as they have become opposites with the development of the two primary political parties of the country. Perhaps, if they were not hanged for treason, the members of the Gunpowder Plot would have very similar or very different views of America’s political system as they did about England’s.

As stated in the beginning, 2024’s Election Day will take place on the same day as the Gunpowder Plot. As fun as the history of the plot is to learn about, it must be taken seriously that there are people who take the political state of their country to an extreme level, such as Guy Fawkes and his associates. In a time of major disagreement in the nation, it is necessary to understand that the outcome of an election should never lead to an act such as the Gunpowder Plot.

With that being said, history must be remembered so that it is not repeated. Given that ideology, a rhyme was made hundreds of years ago to preserve the memory and knowledge of the day…

“Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.”

School will not be in attendance tomorrow, November 5th, in order to observe Election Day. You can stream V For Vendetta on Amazon Prime or check out the graphic novel from a local library (or perhaps your local English teacher’s classroom…).