1836
| Candidate |
Popular
|
Electoral
|
| Martin Van Buren Democrat |
764,176
|
170
|
| William Henry Harrison Whig |
550,816
|
73
|
| Hugh L. White Whig |
146,107
|
26
|
| Daniel Webster Whig |
41,201
|
14
|
| Willie Person Mangum Independent Democrat |
*
|
11
|
| *Mangum was only on the ballot in South Carolina. In SC electors were chosen by the State Legislature, not by popular vote. Martin Van Buren, ca. 1860, from the Library of Congress Brady-Handy Collection (public domain) |
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A new party emerged in 1836, the Whigs, comprised of Republicans, pro-United States Bank Democrats, and states' rights men, mostly Southerners, who wanted to defeat Van Buren, the Democratic candidate, by splitting the popular vote among several of their candidates. Here the primary Whig contenders, William Henry Harrison, Daniel Webster, and Henry Clay, are fitted for the "presidential wig" while campaigning in verse (13A-1066511). Here Harrison and Van Buren are shown playing pool while Webster and Clay bet on Harrison, and Jackson supports Van Buren (13B-1066512). Jackson is cast in this supportive role again in this cartoon depicting a boxing match between the two candidates (13C-1066513). In this campaign poster, a true prophecy as it turns out, Van Buren is seen pushing ahead of Whig candidates Webster, Harrison, and White in the presidential "pig race." (13D-1066514)
Jackson's push was responsible for Van Buren's subsequent election. This cartoon, published in 1832, depicts President Jackson carrying Vice President Van Buren to the White House; in 1831 Jackson had declared that he would make Van Buren first "Vice President and President afterwards," a promise he carried out (13E-1066515).
Around this time, another cartoon symbol first appeared: the Democratic donkey, here ridden by Jackson and followed by President-elect Van Buren (13F-1066516).
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