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To: autumnraine
The first enumeration, in 1790, included very probing questions about "property" ~ particular the number of slaves you owned, their names, ages, etc.

Of course that was the one done by the Founding Fathers so what did they know about counting heads.

BTW, the other evening I was looking for a number ~ the population of Great Britain in 1775 ~ to use in a discussion on FR. Intriguingly UK didn't have a census ~ it had partial counts, and estimates, and various claims advanced by the parties, but not the real deal.

The estimate of UK population varied from 3.5 million to 7.0 million at that time. The United States of America ALSO had a population that was estimated at something like the same figure (depending on who got counted and where).

Parliament had no representation from America.

Having a census was a big deal to the Revolutionary Founding Fathers. Not having a census was an equally big deal to the Tories in London!

UK finally had a regular census in 1841 ~ Parliament was transformed in the next election.

Having a full census, including the enumeration of property and conditions would seem to be a fundamental Civil Right which no real Conservative should reject.

45 posted on 05/14/2010 2:59:26 PM PDT by muawiyah ("Git Out The Way")
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To: muawiyah

You are exactly right! That’s a point I’ve been trying to make here for a few weeks now. In researching family trees, I can tell you that the information requested in the early 1800’s was far more extensive. They even asked where you born, where your parents were born, your occupation, parents occupation, etc...

The only thing they ask now is name, age and race. Oh, and if you own your home free and clear, own with a mortgage or rent. I think that is for statistical purposes though and isn’t so important that they would send someone to your house if you left it off the form.


47 posted on 05/14/2010 3:06:47 PM PDT by autumnraine (America how long will you be so deaf and dumb to the chariot wheels carrying you to the guillotine?)
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