Granite State's Mandate
An in-depth analysis of New Hampshire's electoral participation in the pivotal 1848 U.S. Presidential Election, detailing candidate performance and outcomes.
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Election Overview
The Contest of 1848
The 1848 United States presidential election was a significant contest in American history. In New Hampshire, the election took place on November 7, 1848. Voters in the Granite State were tasked with selecting six electors for the Electoral College, who would then cast votes for President and Vice President.
Key Candidates
The primary contenders vying for New Hampshire's electoral support were:
- Lewis Cass: The Democratic Party nominee, representing the party's platform on popular sovereignty regarding slavery in the territories.
- Zachary Taylor: The Whig Party candidate, a military hero whose political positions were less defined.
- Martin Van Buren: The candidate for the nascent Free Soil Party, advocating against the expansion of slavery.
National Significance
This election marked a critical juncture, addressing issues of westward expansion and the contentious issue of slavery. The outcome in each state, including New Hampshire, contributed to the national electoral tally and shaped the political landscape for years to come.
Detailed Results
Vote Tabulation
The popular vote in New Hampshire decisively favored the Democratic candidate, Lewis Cass. The tabulation reflects the distribution of votes among the major parties:
| 1848 United States Presidential Election in New Hampshire | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | Popular Vote | Electoral Vote | ||||
| Count | % | Count | % | |||||
| Democratic | Lewis Cass of Michigan | William O. Butler of Kentucky | 27,763 | 55.41% | 6 | 100.00% | ||
| Whig | Zachary Taylor of Louisiana | Millard Fillmore of New York | 14,781 | 29.50% | 0 | 0.00% | ||
| Free Soil | Martin Van Buren of New York | Charles Francis Adams, Sr. of Massachusetts | 7,560 | 15.09% | 0 | 0.00% | ||
| Total | 50,104 | 100.00% | 6 | 100.00% | ||||
National Context
The Presidential Race
Nationally, the 1848 election saw Zachary Taylor emerge victorious, defeating Lewis Cass. The election was heavily influenced by debates over the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War. The Free Soil Party, running on an anti-slavery expansion platform, played a spoiler role in several states.
New Hampshire's Position
While the national outcome favored the Whigs, New Hampshire's electorate demonstrated a different preference, casting its electoral votes for the Democratic candidate, Lewis Cass. This outcome highlights regional variations in political sentiment and party strength during this era.
Historical Analysis
Electoral Significance
Lewis Cass's victory in New Hampshire secured all six of the state's electoral votes. Despite this state-level success for the Democratic Party, Cass ultimately lost the national election to Zachary Taylor. This particular outcome in New Hampshire marked a notable instance where a state's vote did not align with the national winner, a pattern that would not repeat for the state in a presidential election until 2004.
Party Dynamics
The election results in New Hampshire reveal the political dynamics of the period. The Democratic Party maintained a strong presence, securing a majority of the popular vote. The Whig Party, represented by Zachary Taylor, garnered a substantial minority, while the Free Soil Party presented a notable third-party challenge, indicating emerging political realignments around the issue of slavery.
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