1840 United States presidential election — 14th quadrennial U.S. presidential election
Harrison's Whig victory over Van Buren ended Democratic control of the presidency and introduced mass-participation campaign politics to the United States.
Key Facts
- Electoral votes (Harrison)
- 234 of 294
- Voter turnout (voting-age pop.)
- 42.4%
- Election dates
- October 30 – December 2, 1840
- Harrison's age at election
- 67 years old
- Campaign slogan
- Tippecanoe and Tyler Too
- Van Buren re-election loss rank
- Third president to lose re-election
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The United States had not fully recovered from the severe economic depression triggered by the Panic of 1837. Widespread unemployment and financial hardship deeply weakened incumbent President Martin Van Buren's standing with voters, who held his administration responsible for the prolonged downturn. The Whig Party, newly organized and holding its first national convention in 1839, nominated war hero William Henry Harrison as a candidate capable of capitalizing on public discontent.
Voting took place across the United States from October 30 to December 2, 1840. Whig nominee William Henry Harrison, running with John Tyler under the slogan 'Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,' defeated incumbent Democrat Martin Van Buren. Harrison won a popular vote majority and 234 of 294 electoral votes. Voter participation reached a contemporary record, reflecting the near-universal extension of white male suffrage and the energetic popular campaign style the Whigs pioneered.
Harrison became president but died just over a month after his inauguration, the first U.S. president to die in office. John Tyler, his successor, proved to be effectively an independent rather than a Whig, blocked the Whig legislative agenda, and was expelled from the party. The Whigs thus gained the presidency but could not implement their program. Van Buren became the third president to lose re-election, and no incumbent seeking re-election would lose again until Grover Cleveland in 1888.
Political Outcome
Whig candidate William Henry Harrison defeated incumbent Democratic President Martin Van Buren, winning 234 of 294 electoral votes and a majority of the popular vote.
Democratic Party (Martin Van Buren)
Whig Party (William Henry Harrison)