Who Won The Election Of 1868

Who Won the 1868 Election?

Did you know that the 1868 election wasn't actually for president? Practically speaking, most people assume it was between Lincoln's successors, but the real drama played out in Congress. The 1868 presidential election was a rematch between Republican Ulysses S. Grant and Democrat Horace Greeley—and Grant won in a landslide. But here's what most history books skip: the election was deeply entangled with impeachment, division, and a nation still healing from civil war.

What Is the 1868 Election?

The 1868 United States presidential election took place on November 3, 1868. It was the third presidential election following the Civil War, and it featured two main candidates: Republican Ulysses S. Grant running on the platform of Reconstruction and continued military support for the defeated Confederate states, and Democratic nominee Horace Greeley, who ran on a platform opposing the harsh treatment of the South and advocating for rapid reconciliation.

Grant wasn't even the presumptive nominee at first. The convention was contentious, with multiple candidates vying for the nomination. But by August, Grant had secured the Republican nomination, running on his reputation as a successful Union general and his commitment to preserving the gains of Reconstruction. Greeley, meanwhile, had been the editor of the New York Tribune and a prominent voices in American journalism, making his candidacy notable as one of the few third-party or independent candidates to achieve such prominence.

Why It Matters

This election matters because it came at a key moment in American history. The country was still reeling from the Civil War, and Reconstruction was underway. Andrew Johnson, the president who had taken office after Lincoln's assassination, had been impeached the previous year but had escaped removal from office by a single vote. His lenient approach to the South had alienated many Republicans, and Grant represented a more aggressive stance toward ensuring civil rights for freed slaves.

The stakes were enormous. Grant's victory would signal a shift in Republican priorities toward more dependable enforcement of Reconstruction policies. A Greeley win would have potentially reversed course, offering a path back to pre-war social structures. Instead, Grant's decisive win ensured that the federal government would maintain its role in protecting the rights of newly freed African Americans.

How the Election Played Out

The Candidates

Ulysses S. Practically speaking, his campaign emphasized stability, the preservation of constitutional rights, and continued federal intervention in Southern states to protect freed slaves. Day to day, though he had never held elected office, his military leadership during the Civil War made him a national hero. Grant stood at the center of this political storm. He was supported by the Radical Republicans who wanted to make sure the promises of emancipation were honored.

Horace Greeley brought a different energy to the race. Plus, as a journalist and former member of Congress, he had long been an abolitionist and a vocal critic of corruption. But his platform opposed what many in the North saw as excessive leniency toward the South, but he also warned against what some feared was an overreach of federal power. Greeley's campaign was notable not just for its policies but for its timing—he would die just days after the election, making his defeat all the more tragic.

Campaign Issues

The 1868 election revolved around several key issues:

• The future of Reconstruction and the treatment of former Confederates
• The role of the federal government in protecting civil rights
• Economic policy in a post-war nation rebuilding its infrastructure
• Corruption in government, particularly under the current administration

Republicans successfully framed the election as a referendum on Reconstruction. They argued that Grant's presidency would continue the hard-won victories of the Civil War, while Democrats portrayed Greeley as too radical in his approach to the South.

The Results

Grant received 1,650,000 popular votes to Greeley's 1,330,000. Still, several other candidates split the remaining electoral votes, but Grant's victory was decisive. In electoral votes, Grant secured 214 to Greeley's 155. The election marked the beginning of the fourth term for the Republican Party in the presidency, following Lincoln, Johnson (who was elected but impeached), and now Grant.

But here's where it gets interesting: Greeley died just three days after the election. This left the country in an unprecedented situation—how would the Electoral College vote proceed if the Democratic winner had died before they cast their ballots?

Common Mistakes People Make

Most people make several key errors when discussing the 1868 election. But first, they assume it was a straightforward contest between two major party candidates, forgetting that third-party candidates like the Greenback Party's John B. Because of that, wheeler also received significant support. Second, they overlook how closely the election was tied to the recent impeachment of Andrew Johnson. The outcome wasn't just about policy—it was about whether the Radical Republicans could maintain their influence in the post-war government.

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Another common mistake is assuming that Grant's victory was inevitable. But in reality, the race was competitive, and Greeley's campaign had strong support in several key states. The election revealed deep divisions within the Democratic Party itself, between those who favored reconciliation and those who wanted to punish the South more severely.

People also often forget that this election occurred during a period of significant social and economic change. The nation was transitioning from an agricultural to an industrial economy, and questions about labor, wages, and economic policy were becoming increasingly important. Grant's victory signaled a shift toward policies that would support this transition, particularly in the South.

What Actually Worked

Looking back at the 1868 election, several factors contributed to Grant's success:

• His military credentials resonated with voters who wanted stability after the trauma of civil war
• Effective campaign messaging around Reconstruction and civil rights
• Strong organizational support from the Republican Party apparatus
• Clear contrast with the Democratic position, which many voters perceived as too conciliatory toward the former Confederacy

Grant's campaign also benefited from what historians call the "Unionist consensus.On top of that, " Many Northerners viewed the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery as non-negotiable principles. Grant embodied these values, while Greeley's more nuanced positions sometimes appeared weak or inconsistent.

Alternatively, Greeley's campaign faced challenges that ultimately proved decisive. His death after the election created a vacuum in Democratic leadership, and his running mate, Thomas Hendricks, had already died in 1867. This meant that the Democratic ticket was essentially leaderless after the election, weakening the party's ability to transition smoothly to governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this the first election after the Civil War?

No, it was actually the third presidential election since the war began. The key elections were 1864 (Lincoln's re-election during the war) and 1865 (which would have been Andrew Johnson's election, but it was superseded by Lincoln's assassination and Johnson's subsequent election).

What happened to Horace Greeley after the election?

Tragically, Greeley died just three days after the election on December 3, 1868. This created a constitutional crisis regarding the Electoral College vote, which was ultimately resolved by having electors vote for other Democratic candidates.

How did Grant's presidency compare to Lincoln's?

While both were Republicans leading the nation through reconstruction, Grant faced different challenges. Lincoln had been focused on preserving the Union, while Grant had to deal with the complex task of rebuilding it. Grant's administration was marked by efforts to protect civil rights, but also by controversies over corruption and economic policy.

Were there other candidates besides Grant and Greeley?

Yes, several third-party candidates ran, including John B. Plus, wheeler of the Greenback Party, who received about 650,000 votes. These candidates reflected the growing diversity of political opinion in post-war America.

The Enduring Legacy

The 1868 election's significance extends far beyond its immediate results. It set the stage for nearly two decades of Republican dominance in American politics. Grant's presidency, while marred by corruption scandals, maintained the party's commitment to Reconstruction until the end of the 19th century.

More importantly, the election marked a turning point in how Americans thought about federal power, civil rights, and the meaning of the Civil War. The choice between Grant and Greeley wasn't just about policy—it was about the very soul of the nation.

For those interested in understanding this critical moment,

For those interested in understanding this key moment, exploring the extensive archival records and personal correspondences of the era offers a deeper appreciation for the immense stakes involved. The 1868 election was not merely a contest between two men, but a referendum on the future of a fractured nation. It demonstrated the enduring power of the federal government to enforce civil rights and reshape societal structures, even when faced with fierce local resistance.

While the subsequent decades would bring their own trials, political retrenchments, and the eventual abandonment of federal enforcement in the South, the mandate delivered by the voters in 1868 cemented a crucial principle: that the United States was, at its core, a unified entity committed to liberty and equality. The echoes of that election continue to shape the ongoing dialogue about national identity, justice, and the ever-evolving meaning of democracy in America.