Download Presidential Elections of 1856, 1860, and 1864: A Comparative Analysis and more Exercises Political Systems in PDF only on Docsity!
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 1856
James Buchanan Democratic From: Pennsylvania Running mate: John C. Breckinridge Electoral vote: 174 States carried: 19 Popular vote: 1,836, Percentage: 45.3%
John C. Fremont Republican From: California Running mate: William L. Dayton Electoral vote: 114 States carried: 11 Popular vote: 1,342, Percentage: 33.1%
Millard Fillmore American Party From: New York Running mate: Andrew J. Donelson Electoral vote: 8 States carried: 1 Popular vote: 873, Percentage: 21.5%
296 electoral votes of the Electoral College. 149 electoral votes needed to win. Buchanan won the blue states. Red denotes those won by Fremont and white denotes those won by Fillmore
How many years had the United States of America been in existence? ______________
How many states in the Union? ____________________
The Whig Party, which had been since the 1830’s been one of the two major parties in the U.S. , had disintegrated. New parties, such as the Republican Party (strongly against slavery’s expansion) and American, or “Know-Nothing” Party (which ignored slavery and instead emphasized anti-immigration and anti-Catholic policies), competed to replace the Democratic Party.
Review and compare the number of states, electoral votes, and popular votes won by each candidate. Express your opinion to explain the results.
303 electoral votes of the Electoral College. 152 electoral votes needed to win.
How many states in the Union? ______________________
This election marked the end of the South’s political dominance over the nation. Between 1789 and 1860, Southerners had been President for two-thirds of the time, and had held offices of Speaker of the House and President pro tem of the Senate during much of that time. Moreover, since 1791, Southerners had comprised a majority of the Supreme Court. Within four months before Lincoln’s inauguration, seven Southern slave-holding states declared their secession from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America, with the new capital being placed in Montgomery, Alabama.
What factors allowed Lincoln to win the election with little support from the southern states?
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 1864
George B. McClellan Democratic From: New Jersey Running mate: George H. Pendleton Electoral vote: 21 States carried: 3 Popular vote: 1,812, Percentage: 45.0%
Abraham Lincoln National Union Party From: Illinois Running mate: Andrew Johnson Electoral vote: 212 States carried: 22 (+2) Popular vote: 2,218, Percentage: 55.0%
This transcription was copied from the original document and is representative of all spelling, punctuation and grammar as written bythe creator. The original document is housed in the Pearce Civil War Collection, Pearce Collections Museum, Navarro College, Corsicana, Texas. Http://www.pearcecollections.us
Mud Island. Nov.26th^ /
Little Honey. I received your letter of te 12th^ a day or two since, and can assure you that I never felt happier in my life. I have often grumbled and complained at what I now know to have been absolutely nothing. There is an old adage to this effect that “we are unable to appreciate happiness or enjoyment until we have experienced the contry, or misfortune” and I am satisfied of its truth. I know now that I have neer been really miserable and unhappy before; that my life has been comparatively smoth and happy, portions of it, I need not designate to you which, supremely so; but when I learned of your continued bad health, and became apprehensive of sustaining that great loss, than which there can be no greater, or ore afflicting I became utterly downcast and miserable……. ……..From the news we have received I judge that Lincoln has been re-elected by a very large majority. I am glad of it. It was and is no doubt the intention of both the candidates to carry on the war to the utmost length of their power. As it is, we have become somewhat used to Lincoln, and know that we are able to fight him, whereas, I was afraid that if McClelland was elected he would have been able to raise a much larger army than his opponent can. But I will not trouble you with gloomy views about the future, Little Honey; I am rather too happy in the prospect of you being in good health again, to feel much so about any outside matter. Kiss the children for me Little Darling, and continue to write frequently. I will be certain to bring you some paper when I come home. De.
REVIEW OF CIVIL WAR LETTER
Who wrote this letter and what was the occupation?
What side of the Civil War did the writer support? Provide evidence.
What was the purpose of the letter?
What important details are provided in this letter?
What is the mental state of the writer? (ex: anger, despair, empathy, joy,
sympathy)_________________________________________________________________
