The Election of 1864 | chemungcocivilwar

Don't Change Horses in the Middle of a Stream: The Election of 1864

The election of 1864 was the first to take place during wartime since 1812. Twenty-five states participated, and soldiers in the field voted for the first time in history. President Abraham Lincoln, as National Union Party candidate, promised to continue the war until the Confederacy’s unconditional surrender. George B. McClellan ran for the Democrats as the peace candidate though he did not personally believe in the party’s platform. The fall of Atlanta in September made it clear that Union victory was possible and the support of active soldiers secured President Lincoln’s re-election.

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The National Union Party was a coalition of Republicans loyal to President Lincoln and War Democrats. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org	The Democrat platform called for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement with the Confederacy to end the war. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
The Radical Democracy Party was made up of anti-Lincoln Republicans. John Fremont withdrew from the race declaring that winning the Civil War was too important to divide the Republican vote. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org	Harper’s Weekly, November 12, 1864 President Lincoln was the first incumbent to win re-election since 1832. He was assassinated just six weeks after inauguration. Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com
While George McClellan got 45% of the popular vote, President Lincoln won the Electoral College in a landslide of 212 to 21. Locally, the majority in Elmira and Horseheads voted Republican while the rural parts of the county voted Democrat. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

Don't Change Horses in the Middle of a Stream: The Election of 1864

The National Union Party was a coalition of Republicans loyal to President Lincoln and War Democrats. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

The Democrat platform called for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement with the Confederacy to end the war. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

The Radical Democracy Party was made up of anti-Lincoln Republicans. John Fremont withdrew from the race declaring that winning the Civil War was too important to divide the Republican vote. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

Harper’s Weekly, November 12, 1864

President Lincoln was the first incumbent to win re-election since 1832. He was assassinated just six weeks after inauguration. Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com

While George McClellan got 45% of the popular vote, President Lincoln won the Electoral College in a landslide of 212 to 21. Locally, the majority in Elmira and Horseheads voted Republican while the rural parts of the county voted Democrat. Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org