Presidential Election of 1836
The presidential election of 1836 is often overlooked in the matter of importance of United States elections. Common opinion is that it was an insignificant election that was a runaway by the Democrats because the Whigs could not agree on a candidate. However, the election was important in the fact that there was once again a two party system. The election was not as convincing a victory for the Democrats as is popularly held. The Democrats and Whigs each faced various challenges on the road to the election of 1836. Andrew Jackson and the Jacksonian Democratic Republicans enjoyed dominating victories in both the 1828 and 1832 elections, but there was uncertainty heading into the election of 1836. Many former Democrats had left the party for various reasons; Jackson had disillusioned some by the extensive powers he used while in office, while others feared Martin Van Buren, former Vice-president and the apparent heir to Jackson. "Stunned when the legislature of his own state of Tennessee decided to nominate favorite son Senator Hugh Lawson White in January 1835, he {Jackson} called for a Democratic convention before more states were lost," (5, 57.) Jackson wanted to unite the Democrat
To reassure his critics he denied that the federal government had the authority to interfere with slavery anywhere except in the District of Colombia, and added that no action should be taken there," (6, 270. ) The Whigs put forth three candidates that could serve to accomplish their goal of taking the election to the House. "Among the first to use the name which this new party came to bear were certain state rights groups in South Carolina and Georgia, which developed in 1833" (1, 336. ) This was an obvious attempt to assure the South that he could be trusted to leave the institute of slavery alone despite being a Northerner himself. Jackson was portrayed as "King Andrew the First," from which came the name Whig: the English party opposed to the crown. ) These Southerners were opposed to the power that Jackson had shown in his many vetoes of legislation, and to the federal government taking to much power. ) Once in the House the Whigs hoped to unite behind one candidate. Perhaps not the best strategy, but as I will show in a minute, it nearly worked. Their goal was to make Van Buren look bad or get into a position that he could not help stepping upon the toes of some of his supporters.
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Acceptance Essays
