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Summary
President James Polk, having achieved virtually all of his objectives in one term, chose not to seek re-election.
Mexican War General Zachary Taylor of Louisiana, spurred by his successes on the battlefield but who had never voted in an election himself, was openly courted by both the Democratic and Whig parties. In the end, Taylor declared himself a Whig and accepted their nomination.
The Democrats countered by nominating Lewis Cass, who had served as Governor and Senator for Michigan, as well as Secretary of War under Andrew Jackson, and from 1836-1842 as ambassador to France.
A third party, the Free Soil Party, was organized for the 1848 election to oppose further expansion of slavery into the western territories, and hopefully the abolition of slavery itself. Lead by Salmon P. Chase and John P. Hale, the Free Soilers nominated former President Martin Van Buren as their standard bearer, with Charles Francis Adams as Vice President.
With the exception of South Carolina, who left the selection of electors to its legislature, the election of 1848 marked the first time in which every state in the union voted for President and Vice President on the same day: November 7, 1848. Taylor won election over Cass, capturing 163 of the 290 electoral votes cast. On July 9, 1850 however, Taylor would die in office, propelling Millard Fillmore into the presidency.
Election Results
Other Elections
For More Information
President of the United States, U.S. presidential election, 1848, History of the United States (1776-1865)
Source: Library of Congress (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov05.html)
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