While a three party election had existed in the past, during the election of 1848 the existence of a third party had a major impact on the results for the first time in history. The questions regarding slavery clearly became the single most important factor in the election for the president of the United States. Whether or not to allow slavery in the areas acquired because of the Mexican War became the major issue of the election campaign. .
During the national convention of the Whig party in June of 1848, Zachary Taylor, a war hero, was the clear favorite. He received the needed two-thirds of the votes necessary to be nominated, on the fourth ballot. Taylor said very little with regard to slavery even though he himself owned 200 slaves. He was very careful not to make any public comments for, or against, the Wilmot Proviso, which was a recent amendment that banned slavery in all lands acquired from Mexico. Taylor's supporters presented him as someone who could support both the North and the South. However, since he owned slaves himself, most people considered him to favor pro-slavery.
The Democrats nominated Lewis Cass, of Michigan, as their presidential candidate. Cass was a proponent of popular sovereignty, which meant that the people in any new territory should have the right to vote whether or not to permit slavery. Unlike Taylor, Cass was a career politician having served as governor and senator of Michigan.
Many people who opposed slavery became frustrated with the fact that neither candidate would address the issue of slavery. As a result, the Free Soil Party was formed by individuals from both the Whigs and Democrats. Martin Van Buren, a former Democratic president, was nominated as their candidate. Van Buren and the Free Soil Party ran their campaign in total opposition to the expansion of slavery. .
Although Van Buren did not carry any states, the ten percent of the total vote that he did receive was enough to ensure Taylor's victory.
Taylor describes 1848 as 'opening of an era'. ... The year 1848 revealed them that foreign aids was necessary. ... Socially, the year 1848 started the age of masses. ... However, free trade era began after 1848. ... However, one should not forget, the change of form in government was due to the election of the French because they wanted to gain glory. ...
Following the election of Pius IX in 1846, the Piedmontese monarch allowed the congress of scientists meeting in Genoa in September to issue a series of patriotic pronouncements. ... By a decree of February 8, 1848, Charles Albert complied. ... The failure of 1848 also convinced him of the need for a powerf ul ally to dislodge Austria from Italy. ... Following the election of Pius IX in 1846, the Piedmontese monarch allowed the congress of scientists meeting in Genoa in September to issue a series of patriotic pronouncements. ... By a decree of February 8, 1848, Charles Albert complied. ...
Important issues of the election A. ... Major Opposition of the election A. ... In the election of 1848, the Wilmot Proviso was ignored by both the Whig and Democratic parties, but adopted by the Free-Soil Party. ... Wisconsin entered the Union in 1848 as the 30th state. ... E. 1848 - The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. ...
Such democratic sentiments were widespread during the Jacksonian Period of 1824-1848. ... Jackson won the presidency during the election of 1828, thanks to a sort of political revolution. This election saw a higher voter turnout than ever before, proving that the common man was eager to exercise his newly acquired voting privileges The people of the rustic western states tended to vote for Jackson, and his election signaled the shift in power from the hands of aristocratic East to the hands of the agrarian West. ... The women's rights movement was officially launched when Elizabeth Cady ...
The National Republican Party gained strength after the election of 1828 in which Jackson won. ... Democrat Martin Van Buren eventually won the election of 1836. ... In 1840, the Whigs gained a major political victory by winning the presidential election. ... In the election of 1844 Henry Clay became the Whig party candidate, but was narrowly defeated by the Democrat James K. ... In 1848, the Whig's would again capture the White House with Zachary Taylor who gained popularity in the Mexican War. ...
Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Motts Began the fight for women's rights to vote in 1848 and continued to do so for more than 70 years. ... Since 1960 there has been a drop in voting with the 1996 elections reaching an all time low. ... The18-24 age group has one of the lowest turn outs for elections. ... Two: elections aren't popularity contests. ... Four: In the last presidential election it came down to 300 votes in one state. ...
Then, the 1848 Mexican Cession further impeded national unity. ... In the election of 1848, the Free Soil Party was organized as opposition to slavery in the new territories. The Whigs and Democrats decided to ignore the subject in the election. ... Each different political party in 1848 signified the weakening of national unity in America, especially because the parties of this period held different views on the slavery issue. ...
The nationalist movement was revived during the revolutions and the set up of the Frankfurt Parliament in 1848. ... A meeting was held in Heidelberg in 1848 of German liberals and would-be reformers who wanted greater unity in Germany. They called for an election of a Vorplarliament who would be elected by the people to consider a way to create a unified Germany. The Vorparliament decided to arrange an election for a national assembly in Frankfurt. ... The 1848 revolution failed and lessons had to be learnt and changes needed to be made if nationalism was to achieve unification in future. ...
