The Election of 1864 Explained

Summary

The video covers the 1864 U.S. presidential election, emphasizing the complexities of wartime politics. Lincoln, despite his unpopularity and challenges from Radical Republicans and Democrats, managed to secure re-election. The Republican Party temporarily rebranded as the National Union Party, nominating Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. The Democrats, divided over war and peace, chose General McClellan, but their mixed messages weakened their campaign. Key events, like Sherman's capture of Atlanta, shifted momentum in Lincoln's favor, leading to a decisive victory. The video also touches on Lincoln's assassination shortly after his second inauguration.

Takeaways

• 😀 The election of 1864 was the first war-time election since 1812 and the first since Andrew Jackson in 1832 to be reelected.
• 🏆 Lincoln won the election but faced significant opposition and wasn't guaranteed a victory.
• 🔄 The Republican Party rebranded as the National Union Party to unite with war Democrats and included a Democratic governor on the ticket.
• 🤝 The National Union Party's platform included unconditional surrender, support for the 13th Amendment, aid for veterans, and infrastructure development.
• 🐟 Salmon Chase, Lincoln's Secretary of Treasury, initially sought the Republican nomination but was outmaneuvered by Lincoln.
• 💥 The Democratic Party was divided into war Democrats, moderate peace Democrats, and hard-core peace Democrats (Copperheads).
• 🤔 General George McClellan, the Democratic nominee, ran on a peace platform, which conflicted with his war Democrat stance.
• 🔄 The Radical Republicans, dissatisfied with Lincoln, formed the Radical Democracy Party and nominated John Fremont, who later dropped out to support Lincoln.
• 📈 Lincoln's fortunes turned with military successes like General Sherman's capture of Atlanta, which bolstered his campaign.
• 🏆 Lincoln secured a significant victory with 212 electoral votes to McClellan's 21, winning the popular vote with 55 percent.

Q & A

Why was the 1864 election significant in American history?

The 1864 election was the first war election since 1812 and no president had been elected to a second term since Andrew Jackson in 1832. It was also significant because it occurred during the American Civil War, making it a critical moment to determine the leadership for the Union.

Why did the Republican Party form the National Union Party for the 1864 election?

The Republican Party created the National Union Party to unite with war Democrats who believed the war needed to be concluded. This was due to fractures within the Republican Party, with Radical Republicans pushing for more aggressive measures than Lincoln was willing to take.

What was the stance of the National Union Party on slavery and the war?

The National Union Party's platform included unconditional surrender, support for the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery, and the use of black troops in the war effort. They also advocated for infrastructure development, immigration, and the Monroe Doctrine.

Who were the factions within the Democratic Party during the 1864 election?

The Democratic Party had war Democrats who wanted to finish the war, moderate peace Democrats who wanted to negotiate peace, and hard-core peace Democrats known as Copperheads who just wanted to end the war.

Why did the Democratic Party choose General George McClellan as their nominee?

The Democratic Party chose General George McClellan as their nominee because there were enough war Democrats in the party to convince others to support him. Despite being a war Democrat, he ran on a peace platform, which later became a liability.

What was the role of Salmon Chase in the 1864 election?

Salmon Chase, Lincoln's Secretary of Treasury and featured on the $10,000 bill, initially sought the Republican nomination but was outmaneuvered by Lincoln. Lincoln later appointed him to the Supreme Court.

Why did John Fremont, the Radical Democracy Party's nominee, drop out of the 1864 election?

John Fremont dropped out of the election after seeing the Democratic Party's peace platform and realizing the importance of keeping the Republican coalition together to prevent a Democratic victory that could potentially end the war prematurely.

How did the outcome of the Battle of Atlanta in September 1864 influence Lincoln's election chances?

The capture of Atlanta by General Sherman significantly boosted Lincoln's chances as it signaled that the war was turning in favor of the Union, making Lincoln the favorite to win the election.

What was the electoral vote count for Lincoln and McClellan in the 1864 election?

Lincoln and Johnson won with 212 electoral votes, capturing 55 percent of the popular vote. McClellan and his running mate George Pendleton received only 21 electoral votes.

How did Lincoln's approach to the war and his political maneuvers affect his popularity during the election?

Lincoln was initially unpopular due to the ongoing war, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the draft. However, his political maneuvers, such as forming a bipartisan ticket and the late-war victories, helped secure his re-election.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Election of 1864: Lincoln's Re-election Amidst War

The video script discusses the election of 1864, which was the first war-time election since 1812. It highlights that no president had been elected to a second term since Andrew Jackson in 1832. The script introduces the unique situation where the Republican Party, recognizing internal fractures and Lincoln's unpopularity, created the National Union Party to support Lincoln's re-election. This new party included Radical Republicans, moderate Republicans, and War Democrats. The platform of the National Union Party focused on unconditional surrender, the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery, support for veterans, infrastructure development like the Transcontinental Railroad, and immigration. The script also discusses the Democratic Party's divisions and their nominee, General George McClellan, who ran on a peace platform despite being a war Democrat. Additionally, the Radical Democracy Party, which nominated John Fremont, eventually dropped out to support Lincoln, fearing a Democratic victory could be detrimental. The script sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the election's dynamics.

05:02

🏆 Lincoln's Victory: Turning Points and Election Results

This part of the script delves into the challenges Lincoln faced during his re-election campaign, including widespread unpopularity due to the ongoing Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the draft. It discusses the impact of the Democratic Party's peace-oriented platform, which created internal disarray and was seen as contradictory to McClellan's war stance. The script highlights the pivotal moment when General Sherman's capture of Atlanta shifted public sentiment, making Lincoln the favorite to win. The election results are detailed, showing Lincoln and Johnson securing 212 electoral votes and 55% of the popular vote, winning several new states. In contrast, McClellan and his running mate George Pendleton only won three states with 21 electoral votes. The script concludes with a humorous anecdote about Lincoln's reaction to his victory and a call to action for viewers to subscribe and explore more historical elections.

Keywords

💡Election of 1864

The election of 1864 refers to a pivotal moment in American history where Abraham Lincoln was up for re-election during the Civil War. This election was significant as it was the first war-time election since 1812 and marked the first time a president was elected to a second term since Andrew Jackson in 1832. The video discusses how Lincoln's re-election was uncertain due to his unpopularity and the ongoing war, making this keyword central to understanding the historical context of the video.

💡National Union Party

The National Union Party was a coalition formed for the 1864 election, consisting of moderate Republicans and War Democrats. This party was created to support Lincoln's re-election campaign, emphasizing unity and the continuation of the war effort. The video explains that the formation of this party was a strategic move to consolidate support for Lincoln, highlighting the political maneuvering during a critical period in American history.

💡Radical Republicans

Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party who advocated for more aggressive action during the Civil War, including the abolition of slavery and equal rights for African Americans. The video mentions that these Republicans were too radical for Lincoln's stance, yet they played a role in the political landscape of the time. Their push for stronger measures against the Confederacy is an important aspect of the video's narrative on the complexities of the political climate during the Civil War.

💡War Democrats

War Democrats were Democrats who supported the continuation of the Civil War to preserve the Union, as opposed to those who sought peace through negotiation or cessation. The video discusses how this faction within the Democratic Party was instrumental in Lincoln's re-election, as they joined forces with the National Union Party. Their role in the election is a key element in understanding the political alliances that shaped the outcome of the 1864 election.

💡Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by Lincoln in 1863, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free. The video notes that while this was a significant step towards ending slavery, it also alienated some Northerners who did not support the war's new focus on emancipation. This keyword is crucial for understanding the evolving objectives of the Civil War and the challenges Lincoln faced in securing re-election.

💡Draft Riots

The draft riots refer to violent protests that occurred in New York City in 1863 in response to the conscription of men for the Union Army. The video mentions these riots as an example of the widespread discontent with Lincoln's policies, particularly the draft, which was deeply unpopular among many citizens. This keyword is important for illustrating the social unrest and opposition that Lincoln had to overcome during his re-election campaign.

💡Salmon Chase

Salmon Chase was Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury and a prominent figure within the Republican Party. The video discusses his early challenge to Lincoln for the presidential nomination but his eventual withdrawal in favor of Lincoln. Chase's role in the election is significant as it demonstrates the internal divisions within the Republican Party and Lincoln's political acumen in managing these rivalries.

💡George McClellan

General George McClellan was the Democratic Party's nominee for the 1864 election. The video highlights the contradictions within the Democratic platform and McClellan's own stance as a 'war Democrat' running on a 'peace platform.' McClellan's candidacy is central to the video's discussion of the election, as it contrasts with Lincoln's approach to the war and illustrates the Democratic Party's internal divisions.

💡Radical Democracy Party

The Radical Democracy Party was formed by Radical Republicans who were dissatisfied with Lincoln's leadership and nominated John Fremont as their candidate. The video explains how Fremont's decision to withdraw from the race and endorse Lincoln was crucial in consolidating the Republican vote. This keyword is important for understanding the dynamics of third-party politics during the Civil War era and their impact on the election's outcome.

💡Sherman's March to the Sea

General William Tecumseh Sherman's 'March to the Sea' was a military campaign in 1864 that involved a destructive march through the Southern states, aimed at crippling the Confederacy's war effort. The video mentions this event as a turning point in the war and a significant factor in Lincoln's re-election, as it demonstrated Union military success. This keyword is essential for grasping the military developments that influenced public opinion and the election's result.

Highlights

The election of 1864 was the first war election since 1812.

No president had been elected to a second term since Andrew Jackson in 1832.

Lincoln's re-election was uncertain due to his unpopularity and the ongoing war.

The Republican Party fractured, leading to the formation of the National Union Party.

Radical Republicans pushed for more aggressive war policies and equal rights for African Americans.

Lincoln joined forces with moderate Republicans and War Democrats to form a bipartisan ticket.

Andrew Johnson, a Democratic military governor, was Lincoln's running mate.

Salmon Chase, Lincoln's Secretary of Treasury, initially sought the Republican nomination.

The National Union Party's platform included unconditional surrender and support for the 13th Amendment.

The Democrats were divided into war Democrats, moderate peace Democrats, and hard-core peace Democrats.

General George McClellan, a war Democrat, was the Democratic nominee.

The Democratic platform's focus on peace issues contradicted McClellan's war stance.

Radical Republicans formed the Radical Democracy Party and nominated John Fremont.

Fremont dropped out of the race and endorsed Lincoln, helping to secure his victory.

Lincoln was not popular in the North, with many opposing his policies and the ongoing war.

The Democratic platform's peace stance and McClellan's war record created confusion and division.

General Sherman's capture of Atlanta in September 1864 shifted momentum towards Lincoln.

Lincoln won with 212 electoral votes and 55 percent of the popular vote.

McClellan only won three states with 21 electoral votes.

Lincoln's victory was secured by a combination of political maneuvers and military successes.

Transcripts

hey guys welcome to hippies history as

we bang out the election of 1864 like

literally bang out the election of 1864

the first war election since 1812 in

fact no president was elected to a

second term since Andrew Jackson thirty

years before in 1832

what's gonna happen well Lincoln's gonna

win but nobody gets a free ride

all right giddyup for the learning guys

let's go get her done right now so why

do we start off with a Republican Party

nomination

sike the Republican Party isn't gonna

have a nomination that's because they're

gonna create a new party called the

National Union party what occurred

within the Republican Party is that

there was kind of a fracture we have to

remember as this process begins the

worst not going so good in fact Lincoln

is hugely unpopular he himself in fact

thinks he has very little chance of

getting reelected but he also believes

that he's the best person to finish this

war and save the Union remember like

it's always about saving the Union so

there was a group of Republicans Radical

Republicans who really want to push

Lincoln to even be more hardcore in this

war in fact going as far as not only

abolishing slavery he already issued the

Emancipation Proclamation but also

giving African Americans equal

protection under the law making them

citizens in fact too radical for mr.

Lincoln

so mr. Lincoln is gonna pair up with his

moderate Republicans with what we're

called war Democrats people in the

Democratic Party that believe this war

had to come to a conclusion so they're

gonna guard her up with Abraham Lincoln

and along for the ride we're gonna bring

the Democratic military governor of

Tennessee Andrew Johnson that's right

guys this is a bipartisan ticket there

is a Republican and a Democrat on the

ticket Lincoln doesn't go unopposed

early on we have salmon chase who's

going to go for the nomination he was

Lincoln Secretary of Treasury he in fact

is on the $10,000 bill google it look it

up but he does make an early run for it

but he underestimated Lincoln's kind of

master political manipulation inside the

Republican Party especially in the state

of Ohio where chase was kind of vetting

the nomination on he's going to get

pushed out but don't worry salmon chase

mr.

Lincoln he's always thinking about his

rivals so he's going to put you on the

Supreme Court so the National Union

Party is gonna have a platform that has

in it unconditional surrender no

questions brother they're gonna want

something like the 13th amendment to

abolish slavery they're gonna want to

aid veterans of course that always does

very well in elections they're gonna

want something in terms of a

Transcontinental Railroad remember these

guys believe in infrastructure they

believe in immigration they believe in

the Monroe Doctrine and they're also

praising Lincoln's running of the war

including him using black troops as part

of that method so we have not the

Republican Party but the National Unity

Party and they're gonna go up against

the Democrats want to talk about a

fractured party let's look at those

times so just like the Republicans the

Democrats have their own divisions

within their party they have basically

factions that are called war Democrats

they want to finish this war some of

them are called moderate peace Democrats

kind of want to finish the war but

negotiate a peace and then we have hard

core peace Democrats who just want to

end the war they were called copperheads

and they were led by a politician by the

name of Thomas Seymour but there's

enough war Democrats in the party that

they're gonna be able to convince the

Democrats to go with a war Democratic

nominee in General George McClellan he's

back Lincoln got rid of them but he

couldn't get rid of them for the

election and they're believing that this

coalition party is going to be able to

beat Abraham Lincoln and they were the

early on favorites to do so in fact

their platform is really gonna be part

of their demise it's a muddled platform

but it has more peace stuff in it than

war stuff in it so when this war turns

around they're gonna have pie on their

face and in fact George McClellan was a

hardcore war Democrat he probably was

more hardcore than Abraham Lincoln

himself but he's running on a peace

platform which is kind of contradictory

and that's going to end up biting him in

the butt at the end of the day but we're

not done we're gonna bring one more

party to the forefront and then we're

gonna destroy it

so the Republican Party has split so bad

that those Radical Republicans believe

that Lincoln isn't the best nominee

they're gonna put forth their own

nominee in a new party called the

radical democracy party they're gonna

put forth the Republican nominee from

1856 John Fremont the former senator

from California

but John Fremont when he takes a look at

that Democratic platform at Pease

platform and he sees what Lincoln is up

against and what happens if Lincoln

loses by September he's gonna drop out

he's gonna give Lincoln a break he's

going to endorse Lincoln and hold that

Republican coalition together and I kind

of see him like a Bernie Sanders right

he's kind of nudging and Hillary Clinton

he wants her to change and then he see

Trump coming along and he goes I don't

think I'm gonna break up the party here

if he doesn't drop out Abraham Lincoln

maybe loses the election of 1864 so

let's put these two guys McClellan and

Lincoln in a blender and see what we

pour out into your glass of work

most Americans think that Abraham

Lincoln was very popular in fact it was

the opposite of course not only does the

southern hemisphere of the United States

hate him but most of the northern part

of the United States isn't his biggest

fan in 1864 as well

we have Gettysburg in 1863 but when

Abraham Lincoln in 1863 issued the

Emancipation Proclamation and made the

war about freeing slaves in a sense to

change the aims of the war he also

angered a lot of northern folks when he

calls up in the draft in 1864 five

hundred thousand men there were riots in

New York City people don't want to fight

for this cause and there are losing

battles in 1864 you have the Battle of

Mansfield the Battle of Coldharbour the

Battle of the crater where Confederate

forces whoop us so it's not looking good

Lincoln is looking disorganized he's

being called a tyrant for disabling

habeas corpus for running things the way

that he ran things which a lot of people

including people in his own party

thought were in efficient but then a

couple of things occur in the campaign

which are gonna turn this boat around

for mr. Lincoln one is that Democratic

platform not only does it have the

effect of creating disarray within the

Democratic Party

you have McClellan a war Democrat who

says he's gonna finish the war off when

the platform kind of says the opposite

that we're gonna close up shop so that

doesn't look very good for McClellan

but the bigger concept is that that

peace platform angered Fremont so much

that Fremont dropped out really paving

the way for a Lincoln victory with a

Republican coalition but the big boy is

going to be in September of 1864 you can

thank general Sherman for marching into

it Atlanta and now everybody pretty much

knows that this war is going to come to

a conclusion so Lincoln is now going to

be the favorite to win the election in

fact soldiers that were allowed to vote

75% of them vote for mr. Lincoln so at

the end of the day when we put that big

map up on the board which I love looking

at look at that map we could see Lincoln

and Johnson piling up with 212 electoral

votes now eleven of the Confederate

states didn't cast electoral votes

there's only 25 states but Lincoln's

going to capture 55 percent

of the popular vote and he's going to

win the new states which are Nevada West

Virginia and Kansas

McClellan the war Democrat and his vice

president george pendleton who was a

piece democrat get only 21 electoral

votes they only won three states

Kentucky Delaware and New Jersey and at

the end of the day Lincoln is just gonna

whoop them in fact on election night it

was said that Lincoln was sitting at the

War Department reading out loud jokes

from a book of humor which kind of

angered the Secretary of War Edwin

Stanton who kind of stormed out he was a

little upset with Lincoln but who cares

Lincoln won right Lincoln is then going

to be inaugurated and about a month

later of course he's going to be

executed by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's

Theater but that's a whole nother video

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