1848 United States presidential election — 16th quadrennial U.S. presidential election
Zachary Taylor's 1848 victory made him the second and last Whig elected president, reshaping slavery-era political alignments.
Key Facts
- Winner
- Zachary Taylor (Whig Party)
- Runner-up
- Lewis Cass (Democratic Party)
- Third-party vote share
- 10.1% for Martin Van Buren (Free Soil Party)
- Election date
- November 7, 1848
- Vice President elected
- Millard Fillmore (New York)
- Incumbent president
- James K. Polk, declined re-election
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Mexican–American War brought General Zachary Taylor national fame as a military hero. Incumbent President James K. Polk declined to seek re-election, leaving Democrats to nominate Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan after Martin Van Buren withdrew over a platform dispute regarding slavery's extension into newly acquired territories.
On November 7, 1848, American voters chose between Whig nominee Zachary Taylor, Democratic nominee Lewis Cass, and Free Soil candidate Martin Van Buren. Taylor won a plurality of the popular vote and a majority of the Electoral College, becoming the 12th President. Van Buren's 10.1% popular vote share was a strong performance for a third-party candidate of that era.
Taylor became the second Whig ever elected president, but died in office and was succeeded by Vice President Millard Fillmore. Van Buren's Free Soil campaign signaled growing antislavery sentiment and foreshadowed the collapse of the Second Party System, contributing to political realignments that would eventually produce the Republican Party.
Political Outcome
Zachary Taylor (Whig) won the presidency; Millard Fillmore elected Vice President; Lewis Cass (Democrat) defeated; Martin Van Buren (Free Soil) received 10.1% of the popular vote.
Democratic administration under James K. Polk
Whig administration under Zachary Taylor