The Presidential Election Of 1856

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) Troubled Times: the Tumultuous 1850s The Presidential Election Of 1856 (Key Notes and Summary) Key Notes - The 1856 presidential election brought about a number of important political and social changes in American culture. The emergence of the American Party (also known as the Know-Nothing Party) was a significant third-party movement that opposed Chinese labor and targeted Irish Catholics in particular in an effort to limit immigration. The rise of the Republican Party: contested the Know-Nothings, championed popular sovereignty, and resisted the Democratic Party's purported scheme to extend slavery. - James Buchanan, the Democratic candidate: adopted a more accommodating stance regarding slavery, profiting from the long-standing dominance of the Democratic Party and his efforts to win over many communities. - Geographical distinctions are emphasized: the Democratic Party sought support from the South, while the Republican Party was founded in the North, reflecting wider splits across the country. Significance: Foreshadowed the American Civil War by symbolizing important political and social changes of the 1850s, such as the emergence of new political forces, the growth of anti-immigrant sentiment, and the expanding divide over slavery. Summary There were significant societal divides and the rise of new political factions during the 1856 US presidential election. Strong anti-immigrant feelings and resistance to Chinese and Irish Catholic immigration contributed to the formation of the Know-Nothing Party, which conflicted with the freshly formed Republican Party's position on the spread of slavery. James Buchanan, the Democratic contender, used a moderate strategy to please several groups of voters and finally won the nomination against fierce opposition from Republican John C. Fremont. The election signaled the beginning of a crucial period of political and social upheaval in 19th-century America by highlighting stark regional divides and foreshadowing the turbulent events that would lead to the American Civil War. The Presidential Election Of 1856 Notes The turbulent political climate that surrounded the 1856 presidential election was marked by profound shifts and rifts in American society. The rise of the American Party—better known as the Know-Nothing Party—as a major third party force was one noteworthy feature of this election. By 1856, this once isolated and reclusive group had become a national organization whose main goal was to stop immigration. Strong anti-immigrant attitudes were held by the Know-Nothing Party, which specifically targeted Irish Catholics they believed to be more loyal to the Pope than to the United States. Their adamant resistance to Irish Catholic immigration was a manifestation of their animosity against Irish immigrants. Furthermore, opposition to Chinese laborers' presence resulted from the party's belief that they were too culturally different to fit into American society, particularly on the West Coast. With John C. Fremont as their nominee, the recently established Republican Party entered the political sphere in opposition to the Know-Nothings. By promoting the idea of popular sovereignty, the Republicans positioned themselves as opponents of the Democratic Party's alleged plan to spread slavery into western regions. Political cartoons from the era, like "Forcing Slavery Down the Throat of a Free Soiler," which portrayed Senator Douglas and President Pierce shoving an enslaved person down a Free-Soiler settler's throat to represent the imposition of slavery against the settler's will, mirrored this position. The Democratic nominee, James Buchanan, took a more accommodative attitude in an attempt to win over a wide range of supporters by eschewing a strong position on the contentious subject of slavery. Part of the reason for Buchanan's seeming indifference on the slavery issue was his absence from the nation when the contentious KansasNebraska Act was passed. Even though Fremont performed admirably, winning more over 33 percent of the popular vote as a candidate from a newly established party, Buchanan won the race. Buchanan's success was aided by the Democratic Party's long-standing power and his attempts to appease different constituencies. With the demise of the Whig Party, the Republican Party's ascent to prominence signaled a dramatic change in American politics. The party's anti-immigrant position, which reflected the Know-Nothings' views, increased its appeal. Consequently, a large number of former Know-Nothings defected to the Republican Party. With the Republican Party firmly established in the North and having little support from the South, the election also brought to light the stark geographical divisions that exist throughout the nation. On the other hand, the Democratic Party deliberately sought to win over Catholic immigrants as voters, highlighting the divisions between the North and the South. All things considered, the 1856 presidential contest served as a symbol of the significant political and social shifts and upheavals that defined the chaotic 1850s in American history. The emergence of fresh political forces, the escalation of anti-immigrant feeling, and the widening differences regarding the slavery question predicted the turbulent circumstances that would finally lead to the American Civil War.