Final answer:
The option that did not characterize elections in San Francisco in the 1850s was 'strict adherence to democratic principles,' as elections during this period were plagued with violence, voter fraud, and the influence of vigilante groups, which undermined the democratic process. The correct option is D. Strict adherence to democratic principles
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about which option did not characterize elections in San Francisco during the 1850s. The options provided include frequent violence and intimidation, extensive voter fraud, involvement of vigilante groups, and strict adherence to democratic principles.
Historical accounts of the period indicate that elections in San Francisco, as well as many other places in 19th-century America, were often marred by violence, voter fraud, and the influence of vigilante groups. The vigilante groups were sometimes involved in addressing lawlessness, but this, together with violence and fraud, contradicted the strict adherence to democratic principles.
Therefore, the option that did not characterize these elections is the 'strict adherence to democratic principles.' Elections were not, strictly speaking, democratic when such conditions prevailed. Using intimidation, bribery, and corruption, political machines infringed upon the fair and democratic process that should categorize any legitimate election. Hence, strict adherence to democratic principles was notably absent during this era within the election process in San Francisco. The correct option is D. Strict adherence to democratic principles