The Half-Breed reformers in the Republican Party had another win with the election of President James A. Garfield. He was ready to finish the job President Hayes started on civil service reform. But Stalwarts like Vice President Chester A. Arthur were intent on maintaining the morally questionable Spoils System. Meanwhile, the Democrats were preparing to make their case as the true party of integrity.
In 1876, the Republican Party bargained the end of Reconstruction for the presidency. Now faced with a solidly Democratic South, and fracturing within their own party, was their political dominance finally coming to an end?
It was America’s hundredth year of independence! How did the nation celebrate? With the most controversial election in American history!
Understandably, we mostly think about Abraham Lincoln as a wartime president, and rarely as a candidate. Believe it or not, voters in 1860 didn’t know he was the greatest president ever! Before Lincoln could put the country back together, others had to tear it apart. It's time for the most consequential election in American history.
Tensions were rising in America and things were looking pretty grim. The Whigs got obliterated in the last election. Could the remnants of their party pick up the pieces before the Southern Democrats enacted their pro-slavery vision?
With Henry Clay’s death and General Winfield Scott’s huge loss to Franklin Pierce, the Whig party came to an end in the 1850s. Before we introduce the Grand New Party, I’d like to pause and review the “Second Party System,” or the era of the Democrats and the Whigs.
Once again, the Whigs were in control of the presidency. Last time, William Henry Harrison died after a month and John Tyler went rogue. But that’s not going to happen this time, right? RIGHT?!
The last election featured the first real dark horse winner, James K. Polk. He pledged to complete his agenda in one term. Is a successful, one-and-done president possible? And where does that leave the parties?
For the last few elections, Henry Clay and the Whigs have been scrambling to respond to the Democratic coalition that Andrew Jackson built. But they’ve finally learned how to campaign and are ready to go after the Average Joe vote. Can William Henry Harrison out-Jackson the Democrats?
By 1836, it was clear that the Jackson Revolution was here to stay. The Democrats had totally transformed American politics, specifically the electoral process! But could they benefit a candidate other than Andrew Jackson? Martin Van Buren was ready to put the party organization to the test.
Election Tuesdays 