Career
In 1802, Blount moved to Montgomery County, Tennessee, which he represented in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1807 to 1809. He was elected governor in 1809, defeating William Cocke by 3,000 votes. Blount was reelected in 1811 and 1813.
During his governorship, he supported the War of 1812, and provided funds and soldiers to Tennessee militia forces led by Andrew Jackson during the Creek War. He led efforts to raise over $37,000 and 2,000 volunteer soldiers for the War of 1812, earning for Tennessee the nickname, "Volunteer State."
Blount attempted a political comeback in 1827, running for governor again, but was defeated by Sam Houston. He was a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1834, which drafted a new document to replace the one in effect since the state had been admitted in 1796, and which has many similarities to the 1870 constitution which is still in effect. One of the chief differences between the 1834 constitution and its predecessor was considerably greater powers being granted to the executive branch generally and the governor in particular than in the earlier document.
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