This paper introduces a comprehensive dataset of nearly 9,000 local appropriations decisions made by the U.S. Congress between 1789 and 1882.
Data & Methods
Researchers analyzed historical records to track partisan/ideological voting patterns across this period.
Key Findings
House members' support for most appropriations largely aligned with party ideology, not electoral calculations.
This finding contradicts common narratives about crass credit-claiming in early Congress debates.
A notable shift occurred exclusively during the 1870s: this is when universalistic coalitions became dominant.
Why It Matters
The analysis reveals that pork-barrel politics evolved significantly over America's first century of federal government, influenced by both Democratic party consolidation and changes in project types (recurring vs. new).
This nuanced perspective challenges simplistic understandings of early American political economy.
