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Election of 1852 |
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Little suspense existed in the Election of 1852, regarding either the outcome or the issues. The Whigs were barely clinging to life, so a Democratic victory was assured from the start. Slavery, the only real issue of the day, was assiduously avoided by both sides.
Democratic frontrunners for the nomination included such luminaries as Lewis Cass, James Buchanan, and Stephen A. Douglas. None was able to secure the necessary two-thirds vote at the convention and the nomination eventually (on the 49th ballot) went to Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire. His support of the Compromise of 1850, and of the Fugitive Slave Act in particular, widened his appeal in the South, but not in his native New England.
The nearly moribund Whigs pinned their hopes on a military hero, General Winfield Scott, hoping that his Mexican War fame would appeal to voters.
The Free-Soil Party appeared again, drawing off votes from the Whigs.
The campaign itself was lackluster. Neither candidate stood for much, so the predictable result was mudslinging. Pierce was the target of especially sharp barbs that pinned him with charges of military cowardice and drunkenness. Scott's military record brought him a healthy popular vote total, but the results in the electoral college were a landslide for Pierce.
The election of 1852 was the swan song for the Whigs, whose membership drifted away to the Know-Nothing Movement and the new Republican Party.
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Election of 1852 |
Party |
Electoral Vote |
Popular |
|
Franklin Pierce (NH) |
Democratic |
254 |
1,609,038 |
|
Winfield Scott (NJ) |
Whig |
42 |
1,386,629 |
|
John Hale (NH) |
Free Soil |
0 |
156,297 |
Election of 1852
Election of 1852 2004 1968 1932 1896 1860 2000 1964 1928 1892 1856 1996 1960 1924 1888 1852 1992 1956 1920 1884 1848 1988 1952 1916 1880 1844 1984 1948 1912 1876 1840 1980 1944 1908 1872 1836 1976 1940 1904 1868 1832 1972 1936 19Election of 1852 2004 1968 1932 1896 1860 2000 1964 1928 1892 1856 1996 1960 1924 1888 1852 1992 1956 1920 1884 1848 1988 1952 1916 1880 1844 1984 1948 1912 1876 1840 1980 1944 1908 1872 1836 1976 1940 1904 1868 1832 1972 1936 1900 1864 1828 ...
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/showelection.php?year=1852
Elections of 1852
Pierce was accused of collapsing and being a coward during the Mexican American War where he was a General. In the end the voters chose the dark horse, Pierce, over the well known general who they did not seem to like. This effectively br,mought ...
http://www.historycentral.com/elections/1852.html
The Political Graveyard: Election of 1852
Questions? Return to The Political Graveyard main page. Election of 1852 Electoral College Details President FRANKLIN PIERCE: 254 electoral votes Alabama (9), Arkansas (4), California (4), Connecticut (6), Delaware (3), Florida (3),Election of 1852 Electoral College Details President FRANKLIN PIERCE: 254 electoral votes Alabama (9), Arkansas (4), California (4), Connecticut (6), Delaware (3), Florida (3), Georgia (10 ...
http://politicalgraveyard.com/offices/pres-vp-1852.html
