"Historic" Presidential Elections

The 2008 presidential election has often been referred to as “historic,” but as we prepare for the AP US History exam, let’s remember some others:

1800 - T. Jefferson (R) defeats J. Adams (F)

“Revolution of 1800”

The first peaceful transfer of power in the modern world from one ruling party to another

1820 - J. Monroe (R) - Unopposed

Demise of Federalist Party after War of 1812

“Era of Good Feeling”

1824 - J.Q Adams (R) defeats Jackson (R), Clay (R), and Crawford (R)

“Favorite Sons” of Northeast, West, and South

Jackson loses to Adams in the House of Representatives although he had received more votes than Adams in the election

John C. Calhoun unopposed for VP

“Corrupt Bargain”

1828 - Jackson (Democratic Republican) defeats J.Q. Adams (National Republican)

John C. Calhoun re-elected as VP after aligning with the Jacksonians

National Republicans become known as “Whigs,” opposing “King Andrew”

Democratic Republicans shorten their name to “Democrats”

1860 - Lincoln(Republican) defeats Breckinridge (Southern Democratic), Bell (Constitutional Union), and Stephen A. Douglas (Northern Democratic

Civil War … pretty historic

Also the first presidential victory for the Republican Party, which was formed in 1854

1876 - Rutherford B.Hayes (R) defeats Samuel Tilden (D)

Votes from Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina disputed

“Compromise of 1877” ends Reconstruction in the South - Hayes agrees to remove troops for votes

NOTE: This was same election in which Wade Hampton ran for governor of South Carolina

1932 - FDR (D) defeats Herbert Hoover (R)

Result: The New Deal. Call it what you will

1948 - Harry S. Truman (D) defeats Thomas Dewey (R)

*** Third Party: Storm Thurmond (Dixecrat)

Truman an underdog - outhustles Dewey, who had grown overconfident

Southern Democrats challenged Truman due to his support of civil rights (integrated military)

1964 - LBJ (D) defeats Barry Goldwater (R)

Goldwater’s conservative wing had taken control of the convention - LBJ’s campaign portrayed Goldwater as an extremist with the “Daisy Ad”

SOUTHERN REALIGNMENT: Aside form his home state of Arizona, all of Goldwater’s electoral votes came from former Confederate states.

1968 - Richard Nixon (R) defeats Hubert Humphrey (D)
*** Third Party: George Wallace (American Independent)

Segregation: Take Two! [Twenty Years Later - Easy to Remember]

SOUTHERN REALIGNMENT (Continued): Of the former Confederate state, five voted for Nixon, five for Wallace, and one for Humphrey. The Democratic Party would no longer be able to take the “Solid South” for granted.

1980 - Ronald Reagan (R) defeats Jimmy Carter (D)

This election is the first triumph of the modern conservative movement in a presidential election