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Election Of 1864 Essay

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The Election of 1864 was important for many reasons, including the outcome of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, and the first Presidential Re-Elect since 1832. Abraham Lincoln ran for the Union Party and ran against General George B McClellan and John Fremont. Lincoln was very pessimistic about his chances of winning the Presidential race, as evidenced by the memorandum he penned, stating what he would do in the very likely event that he was not re-elected. The victories in Atlanta and Cedar Creek boosted Lincoln’s chances of winning immensely. Lincoln eventually won with a 55/45 split of the popular vote and an electoral landslide. His election eventually lead to the North’s victory in the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. …show more content…

They stated that restoration of the Union was not a prerequisite of a peace treaty. Their peace platform suffered from horrendous timing, only spreading after the capture of Atlanta, Georgia. The Democratic party chose General George B. McClellan as their candidate. General McClellan was a general that Lincoln dismissed after he underestimated the Confederate forces and caused heavy losses. McClellan tried to dismiss the Democratic party's claims that the restoration of the Union was not necessary to the peace treaty. This upset the military voters greatly, giving Lincoln the majority of absentee votes …show more content…

Abraham Lincoln won the popular vote with 55% of the vote, to George B McClellan’s 45%. Lincoln also won 22 states and 212 electoral votes to McClellan’s 3 states and 21 electoral votes (270toWin). This lead to Lincoln ordering the North to continue fighting in the Civil War, leading to the North’s victory. After the North emerging victorious, slavery was abolished (Achenbach). Lincoln was the first presidential re-elect since Andrew Jackson in 1832. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1864, after six weeks of his second term. Vice President Andrew Johnson took over from Lincoln after his death

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