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Election of 1848
Topic Started: Jun 29 2010, 07:58 PM (147 Views)
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An Empire for Liberty

May - August 1848

The presidential campaign of 1848 began amid fierce sectional disputes involving the end of the Mexican-American War and the acquisition of California, New Mexico and the West. Democratic President James K. Polk vowed to serve only one term, making this the first election since 1836 that an incumbent president had not sought reelection.

In May, the Democrats met in Baltimore for their national convention. The customary two-thirds majority rule was quickly adopted, and Lewis Cass of Michigan was chosen for president on the fourth ballot over Levi Woodbury and James Buchanan. New York Democrats were particularly incensed by this move, which they considered another means of shutting them out of national patronage despite their consistent party loyalty. Many were also put off by Cass's support for popular sovereignty on the slave question. In response, former president Martin Van Buren and his "barnburners" -- named for the legendary New York Dutchman who burned down his barn to get rid of a small rat infestation -- renounced their Democratic affiliation and defected to the Free Soil Party.

The Whigs held their convention a month later in Philadelphia. As in the last two presidential elections, many initially expected the nomination to go Henry Clay, but his "No Territory" stance in Congress during the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo negotiations alienated supporters outside of the far North. With the time-honored platform of national banking, the tariff, and the spoils system now somewhat passé, most Whigs preferred a new face who could lead their party to landslide victory as William Henry Harrison did in 1840. They settled on Zachary Taylor, a war hero like Harrison, and a Southern slaveowner who could deflect Democrats' anti-war charges.
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"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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An Empire for Liberty

November 7, 1848

The election of 1848 was the first held on the same day in every state, Congress having previously established a uniform schedule after allegations of extensive voter fraud in 1844. General Zachary Taylor won the election in a landslide, defeating Democrat Lewis Cass by almost five percentage points. Martin Van Buren's Free Soil Party came in third but drew significantly more support than anticipated.

Much of the campaign was defined by personalities, not issues. Taylor remained vague on the major problems confronting the country while supporters touted his patriotism and war service, as was done in 1840 with Harrison. Whigs also played up their opposition to the centralization of government authority in the chief executive and roundly condemned James K. Polk for exercising strong presidential powers.

In spite of their losses the Democrats did regain control over both houses of Congress, partly due to the satisfactory conclusion of the late war.


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Presidential Election

Zachary Taylor (Whig): 47.3% of popular vote, 163 electoral votes
Lewis Cass (Democrat): 42.5% of popular vote, 127 electoral votes
Martin Van Buren (Free Soil): 10.1% of popular vote, 0 electoral votes


Senate Election

Democratic Party: 32 seats (-2)
Whig Party: 25 seats (+5)
Free Soil Party: 2 seats (+2)
Independents: 0 seats (-1)
Vacant: 1 seat


House Election

Democratic Party: 113 seats (+5)
Whig Party: 107 seats (-7)
Free Soil Party: 9 seats (+9)
American Party: 1 seat (0)
Independents: 0 seats (-3)
Vacant: 1 seat
Posted Image Embassy of the United States of America Posted Image
"For more than half a century, during which kingdoms and empires have fallen, this Union has stood unshaken. The patriots who formed it have long since descended to the grave; yet still it remains, the proudest monument to their memory."
- Zachary Taylor
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