In the Election of 1844, the founder of the Whig Party, Henry Clay, faced off against the Democrats’ James K. Polk. Let’s dive into the details.
Background
Following the death of William Henry Harrison, his vice president, John Tyler, became the 10th president of the United States. Tyler’s presidency was marked by significant challenges, mainly stemming from his previous affiliation with the Democratic Party before joining the Whigs. His tenure was marred by tension with the Whig Party, which eventually led to most of Harrison’s cabinet resigning and Tyler being expelled from the party. This made him the second and last independent president in U.S. history.
Tyler’s attempts to run as a third-party candidate were unsuccessful, though he did garner some support for the annexation of Texas. The annexation was a contentious issue, potentially leading to conflict with Mexico and further complicating the balance between free and slave states.
Henry Clay Returns
Henry Clay, the man behind the Whig Party and a former Speaker of the House and Secretary of State, returned for another presidential bid after losing in 1824 and 1832 and failing to secure the nomination in 1840. This time, Clay received the Whig nomination unanimously, with Theodore Frelinghuysen, a religious politician from New Jersey, as his running mate.
Despite his previous electoral disappointments, Clay was hopeful for success, buoyed by the Whig Party’s recent victories and gains in Congress. However, Clay’s stance on the annexation of Texas proved problematic. His indecision on this issue, as outlined in letters such as ‘The Raleigh Letter’ and ‘The Alabama Letter’, hurt his campaign.
The Liberty Party
The Liberty Party, a third-party group opposed to the expansion of slavery, gained traction in 1844. In the previous election, they had received only 0.3% of the popular vote, but the debate over Texas annexation revitalized their cause. The Liberty Party ran James Birney, a lawyer and abolitionist from Kentucky, as their candidate. With increased support from the North, the Liberty Party threatened to siphon votes away from Clay.
The Democratic Nominee
The Democratic nomination in 1844 was initially contested by Lewis Cass, James Buchanan, and Martin Van Buren. Van Buren, despite being a prominent Democratic figure, was opposed to Texas annexation, which did not sit well with Southern Democrats. This division led to a deadlock, prompting the selection of a compromise candidate: James K. Polk, a loyal ally of Andrew Jackson known as “Young Hickory”. Polk’s running mate was George Dallas, former U.S. Minister to Russia and a former Senator from Pennsylvania.
Polk embraced the idea of annexing Texas and proposed bringing in Oregon territories as free states to maintain a balance between free and slave states. This strategy helped him gain widespread support. John Tyler’s endorsement of Polk further galvanized the Democrats’ position.
Campaign Strategies
The Whigs attempted to repeat their 1840 strategy of attacking the Democratic candidate with the question, “Who is James K. Polk?” In response, Democrats portrayed Henry Clay as unfit for office and questioned his commitment to the common man. Despite pledging to serve only a single term, Polk’s campaign focused on his clear support for Texas annexation and Manifest Destiny.
The Election of 1844 Results
To win the presidency, a candidate needed at least 138 electoral votes. James K. Polk secured 170 electoral votes to Henry Clay’s 105. The popular vote was much closer, with Polk receiving 49.5% and Clay 48.1%. New York, which narrowly went to Polk by about 5,000 votes, was crucial; had Clay won New York, he would have won the election with 141 electoral votes to Polk’s 134. The Liberty Party’s criticism of Clay’s ambiguous stance on Texas annexation played a significant role in his defeat.
James Birney of the Liberty Party received no electoral votes but garnered 2.3% of the popular vote, a notable improvement from 1840. George Dallas became vice president, and Polk, at 49, became the youngest president at that time. He quickly addressed key issues, including the annexation of Texas and Oregon. Thus ended the Election of 1844, with Henry Clay’s third bid falling short and James K. Polk ushering in the era of Manifest Destiny, leading the U.S. into the Mexican-American War. Stay tuned for the next election to see how these developments unfold.
