1880
James A. Garfield and the 1880 map
Republican James Garfield defeated Democrat Winfield Hancock in the closest popular vote in US history — a margin of just 1,898 votes out of nearly nine million cast. Garfield was a compromise dark horse candidate chosen on the 36th ballot at the Republican convention, picking Chester Arthur as VP to satisfy party factions. Garfield was shot by a disappointed office-seeker in July 1881 and died in September, making his presidency one of the shortest in history.
Civil service reform; Stalwart vs. Half-Breed Republican factions; tariff policy
Closest popular vote ever (1,898 votes); Garfield was assassinated after just 6 months
States · 38 reporting
Embed
Drop this map on your site · coming soon
Free iframe with attribution. White-label option in the works.
Get notified →Classroom
All 300 packets, free
60 cycles · K-2 through AP · open download.
Browse packets →Poster
Wall-worthy print · coming soon
Every-election grid and single-state series in the works.
Get notified →Read further
Curated picksThe Republic for Which It Stands
Richard White
Reconstruction through the Gilded Age.
Buy on Amazon →The Populist Vision
Charles Postel
Bancroft-winning history of Populism.
Buy on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, The American Vote earns from qualifying purchases. Links are tagged for tracking. Recommendations are editorial.
Free, ad-light, no paywall
Built by one person. Tips fund the next 60 elections of editorial.