As tensions over slavery escalate, the Election of 1856 presents another three-way contest for the U.S. presidency. James Buchanan aims for a back-to-back Democratic win. Let’s dive into the details.
Pierce’s Troubled Presidency
Franklin Pierce, the incumbent Democratic president, faced significant challenges during his term. The death of his third son deeply affected him and his wife. Simultaneously, Pierce struggled to manage the nation’s mounting crisis over slavery. By the 1850s, slavery had become the dominant issue in the United States, and Pierce’s actions exacerbated the conflict. He signed two controversial pieces of legislation: the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Ostend Manifesto.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, signed on May 30, 1854, not only admitted Kansas and Nebraska as states but also effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise. This compromise had previously set a boundary, north of which states were to be free. The Act allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery for themselves, leading to violent clashes known as “Bleeding Kansas,” which resulted in over 50 deaths and continued until 1859, with Kansas finally becoming a free state in 1861.
The Ostend Manifesto proposed purchasing Cuba from Spain to expand slave territory, threatening war if Spain refused. This idea enraged many Northerners who opposed the spread of slavery, further complicating Pierce’s presidency.
A Four-Way Fight
Despite the controversies surrounding his presidency, Franklin Pierce sought re-election. However, he faced strong competition from within his party. The Democratic contenders included Stephen Douglas, Lewis Cass, and James Buchanan. After over a dozen ballots, both Pierce and Douglas withdrew, leading to Buchanan securing the nomination. Buchanan, a former Minister to Great Britain, had unknown views on slavery, making him a viable candidate, particularly in the South. His running mate was John C. Breckinridge, a former U.S. Representative from Kentucky.
The Birth of the Republican Party
Following the Whig Party’s collapse and the defeat in 1852, remnants of the Whigs and Free Soil Party formed the Republican Party in 1854. The new party opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act and aimed to end slavery’s expansion, prevent polygamy in Mormon settlements, and promote a Transcontinental Railroad. The GOP’s slogan was: “Free Speech, Free Press, Free Soil, Freemen, Fremont…And Victory.”
The Republican nominee was John C. Fremont, a former Senator from California, explorer, and Mexican-American War hero. His running mate was William L. Dayton, former Senator from New Jersey. Notably, Abraham Lincoln was considered but did not become the running mate.
The Know-Nothing Party
The third significant player was the American Party, known as the Know-Nothing Party due to members’ secrecy. Despite the name, the party gained traction, securing 35 Congressional seats in the midterms and electing Nathaniel P. Banks as Speaker of the House. The party nominated former U.S. President Millard Fillmore with Andrew Jackson Donelson, Andrew Jackson’s nephew, as his running mate. Fillmore was not a party member and did not support its nativist ideals, but he accepted the nomination.
The Campaigns
The Republican Party focused on halting the spread of slavery. The Democrats claimed that electing Fremont would lead to civil war, even alleging that Fremont was involved in cannibalism during a past expedition. The Know-Nothings attacked Fremont’s alleged Catholicism, a point of contention for their nativist supporters.
Fillmore promised unity but struggled to gain traction against the two major parties, as is often the case for third-party candidates.
The Election of 1856 Results
James Buchanan won the presidency, securing 174 electoral votes (with 149 needed to win) but only 45.3% of the popular vote. John C. Fremont received 114 electoral votes and 33.1% of the popular vote. Millard Fillmore received eight electoral votes (from Maryland) and 21.5% of the popular vote, marking a significant showing for a third-party candidate.
Buchanan remains the only bachelor to become president and, according to some sources, the first and currently only LGBTQ president in American history. The Democratic Party secured another victory, but the growing influence of the Republican Party foreshadows increasing tensions. As the nation edges closer to civil war, the 1856 election highlights the deepening divisions. And that concludes the Election of 1856. As we head into the 1860 election, the likelihood of civil war looms ever larger.
