The American Vote
Second Party SystemCycle 13 / 60

1836

Martin Van Buren and the 1836 map.
Martin Van Buren (Democratic) defeated William Henry Harrison (Whig), 50.8% to 36.6%.
Buren
170 EV
Harrison
73 EV
Other
51 EV
0270 to win → 148294
The map · 1836
18 states for Dem · 8 for Whig
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Narrative

Martin Van Buren and the 1836 map

Martin Van Buren, Jackson's chosen successor and Vice President, won a majority of electoral votes against a fragmented Whig opposition that ran multiple regional candidates hoping to throw the election to the House. The Whig strategy failed as Van Buren held the Jackson coalition together. The election was notable for featuring the newly formed Whig Party running different candidates in different regions. Van Buren would soon face the devastating Panic of 1837.

Key issue

Jackson's legacy; Bank policy; slavery in Texas and the territories

Notable

Whigs ran multiple regional candidates in an attempt to deny any candidate a majority