Presidential election
1856 presidential election
James Buchanan defeated John C. Fremont, winning 174 of 296 electoral votes and 45.3% of the popular vote.
Results
78.9%
Turnout rate
4.0M
Total votes cast
4.1M
Eligible voters
| State | Electoral votes | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 27 | DemocraticBuchanan | +1.2% |
| New York(NY) | 35 | RepublicanFremont | +6.2% |
| Ohio(OH) | 23 | RepublicanFremont | +7.1% |
| Virginia(VA) | 15 | DemocraticBuchanan | +23.1% |
| Maryland(MD) | 8 | Know-NothingFillmore | +10.2% |
Candidates
Party
DemocraticRunning mate
John C. Breckinridge
Home state
Pennsylvania
Age at election
65
Previous position
Minister to the United Kingdom
Campaign slogan
"Buck and Breck"
Popular vote
1.8M
(45.3%)
Electoral votes
174
Party
RepublicanRunning mate
William L. Dayton
Home state
California
Age at election
43
Previous position
U.S. Senator from California
Campaign slogan
"Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Men, Fremont"
Popular vote
1.3M
(33.1%)
Electoral votes
114
Party
Know-Nothing/AmericanRunning mate
Andrew Jackson Donelson
Home state
New York
Age at election
56
Previous position
13th President of the United States
Popular vote
873.1K
(21.6%)
Electoral votes
8
Northern States
Fremont
45%
Southern States
Buchanan
62%
Border States
Fillmore
35%
Key events
Caning of Charles Sumner
Pro-slavery congressman attacked anti-slavery senator in Senate chamber
Pottawatomie Massacre
John Brown killed pro-slavery settlers in Kansas
Issues & context
First election featuring Republican Party. Whig Party had collapsed. National tensions over slavery in territories reached crisis point. 'Bleeding Kansas' violence dominated headlines.
Period of relative prosperity before Panic of 1857. Rapid railroad expansion. Continued westward migration increasing territorial disputes.
Pierce (Democrat) passed over for renomination due to Kansas-Nebraska Act fallout. Buchanan's absence abroad as minister gave him advantage of not being tied to controversies.
Republican Party emerged as major force in first presidential campaign. Sectional nature of vote foreshadowed Civil War. Buchanan's presidency proved ineffective as nation spiraled toward conflict.
Did you know?
- 1.First Republican presidential nominee ever
- 2.Fremont was famous Western explorer called 'The Pathfinder'
- 3.Only election won by Know-Nothing Party in any state (Maryland)
- 4.Buchanan remains the only bachelor president
- 5.Three-way race split along sectional lines