1880
The 1880 U.S. presidential election was won by James A. Garfield (Republican) with 214 of 369 electoral votes, defeating Winfield Scott Hancock (Democratic). Electoral vote margin: 59 EV, popular-vote margin +0.1%; turnout 80.5%. The cycle falls in the Gilded Age era of American electoral history.
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
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Reconstruction through the Gilded Age.
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