The American Vote
2024 result

1828
1855

Era

Second Party System

Jackson, Whigs, and the rise of mass politics.

Inside the Second Party System era

The Second Party System era spans 7 presidential elections, 1828–1852. The atlas frames it this way — Jackson, Whigs, and the rise of mass politics.

The Democratic party won 5 of the 7 contests, more than any other party in the era. It opens with the 1828 election (Andrew Jackson) and closes with 1852 (Franklin Pierce).

7 cycles in this era

Second Party System
1828
Andrew Jackson
Democratic · 178 EV · 55.9% pop
Bitter rematch of 1824; marked the rise of Jacksonian Democracy and mass-participation politics
Second Party System
1832
Andrew Jackson
Democratic · 219 EV · 54.7% pop
First election with a national party nominating convention; first third party to win electoral votes
Second Party System
1836
Martin Van Buren
Democratic · 170 EV · 50.8% pop
Whigs ran multiple regional candidates in an attempt to deny any candidate a majority
Second Party System
1840
William Henry Harrison
Whig · 234 EV · 52.9% pop
First modern campaign ('Tippecanoe and Tyler Too'); highest 19th-century turnout; Harrison died 31 days in
Second Party System
1844
James K. Polk
Democratic · 170 EV · 49.5% pop
Polk was a dark horse nominee; Liberty Party spoiler cost Clay New York and the presidency
Second Party System
1848
Zachary Taylor
Whig · 163 EV · 47.3% pop
Taylor won without taking any position on slavery; Free Soil Party foreshadowed Republican Party
Second Party System
1852
Franklin Pierce
Democratic · 254 EV · 50.8% pop
Last election where the Whig Party competed nationally; party collapsed afterward

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 picks

American Lion

Jon Meacham

Pulitzer-winning Jackson biography.

Buy on Amazon →

A Country of Vast Designs

Robert W. Merry

James K. Polk and the manifest-destiny presidency.

Buy on Amazon →

Recommendations are editorial.

Free, ad-light, no paywall

Built by one person. Tips fund the next 60 elections of editorial.

Tip on Ko-fi →