Years Running: 1860 & 1864
1860: |
1864: |
Lincoln received only 40 percent of the popular vote but nevertheless defeated the other three candidates:
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In the United States Presidential election of 1864, Lincoln was re-elected as president. Lincoln ran against his former top Civil War general, the Democratic Candidate: George B. McClellan.
His running mate for the 1864 election was Andrew Johnson.
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Political Slogans:
"Vote yourself a farm."
Refers to the Republican party promise supporting a law granting free homesteads to settlers of western lands. |
"Don't swap horses in the middle of a stream."
A reference to his presidency during the Civil War. Since the election itself was held during the Civil War. President Lincoln’s presidency was the horse caught in the middle of the Civil War stream. In other words, this slogan tried to portray the potential risks of switching presidents mid-war. |
Propoganda:
Buttons:
Political Tactics:
Lincoln focused on becoming well known before his campaign for presidency. He used logic to help other politicians who were then indebted to him by his campaign to be the sixteenth president. Most importantly, Lincoln had gathered a solid group of campaign managers and supporters who came to the Republic convention prepared to get votes for Lincoln.
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The fact an election was even held was shocking, and the fact that Lincoln was chosen for a second time was even more so. Since there were many controversial subjects about the continuing war Lincoln was set up to lose. However, his campaign was what gave him the push he needed. Change is not something that everyone takes well to and Lincoln used that to his advantage. With the amount of change going on with the civil war he promised that keeping him would maintain order and make things better in America.
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Key Issues Addressed:
Abraham Lincoln addressed the slavery occurring in the United States and said that he would help to end it. Along with that he wanted to preserve the union and therefore come up with a possible compromise for both parties. It was not until after his inauguration that the civil war began to keep the country from separating.
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For this election more than Ever Lincoln stressed his desire to bring America back together. With the country falling apart amidst a civil war many people were skeptical of his effectiveness. However, during his speeches he showed how committed he was to the cause and that won him the overall vote.
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