Presidential election
1868 presidential election
Ulysses S. Grant defeated Horatio Seymour, winning 214 of 294 electoral votes and 52.7% of the popular vote.
Results
78.1%
Turnout rate
5.7M
Total votes cast
5.7M
Eligible voters
| State | Electoral votes | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York(NY) | 33 | DemocraticSeymour | +5.8% |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 26 | RepublicanGrant | +2.4% |
| Ohio(OH) | 21 | RepublicanGrant | +3.3% |
| Indiana(IN) | 13 | RepublicanGrant | +5% |
| Georgia(GA) | 9 | DemocraticSeymour | +30% |
Candidates
Party
RepublicanRunning mate
Schuyler Colfax
Home state
Illinois
Age at election
46
Previous position
Commanding General of the U.S. Army
Campaign slogan
"Let Us Have Peace"
Popular vote
3.0M
(52.7%)
Electoral votes
214
Party
DemocraticRunning mate
Francis P. Blair Jr.
Home state
New York
Age at election
58
Previous position
Governor of New York
Popular vote
2.7M
(47.3%)
Electoral votes
80
Northern States
Grant
54%
Southern States
Seymour
52%
Black Voters
Grant
95%
Key events
Johnson Impeachment Fails
Senate fell one vote short of conviction
14th Amendment Ratified
Guaranteed citizenship and equal protection
Issues & context
First election after Civil War with readmitted Southern states. African Americans voted for first time in many states. KKK violence suppressed Black turnout in some areas. Grant was national hero.
Post-war recovery ongoing. Greenback inflation debated. Railroad construction booming. Southern economy devastated. Industrial growth in North.
Johnson (Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Democrat) nearly removed from office. Neither party wanted him. Grant's war heroism made him overwhelming favorite.
First African American votes in national election. Grant's administration plagued by corruption scandals. 15th Amendment followed. Reconstruction continued but faced increasing resistance.
Did you know?
- 1.Grant's margin included 450,000 Black votes
- 2.First election with African American voters
- 3.Seymour reluctantly accepted nomination
- 4.Grant ran with almost no campaign speeches
- 5.Three Southern states (TX, MS, VA) still not readmitted