American History
Presidential Election, 1856-1876
1. What city and state hosted the Democratic National Convention during the election
of 1856?
2. Identify George H. Pendleton and explain what his “Ohio Idea” called for.
3. What role did John C. Fremont play in the presidential election of 1856 and explain
his politics regarding slavery?
4. How many political parties were entered in the presidential election of 1876?
5. What candidates for president were nominated by two different political parties in
the same election? Name the parties.
6. Members of the American Party were identified by what nickname?
7. Name the two democratic political parties of 1860 and explain both of their
platforms.
8. During the election of 1864 why did the Democrats feel they had a good chance to
win the presidency?
9. What arguments did the Radical Republicans use in the election of 1868 to fight the
policies of President Johnson?
10. What party during the election of 1856 supported the Compromise of 1850 and the
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854? Why?
11. How did Lincoln’s pocket-veto of the Wade-Davis Bill almost cost him the
Republican Party nomination?
12. What two parties in the Election of 1860 combine forces to form a new party? Name
the new party.
13. Name the presidential nominee who won the popular vote in the election of 1876,
but lost the electoral vote on recounts from disputed states.
14. What region of the country did Republican’s aim to win in the election of 1860 and
identify the platforms on which they ran.
15. Although the frontrunner until days before the party nomination, why did James G.
Blaine fail to secure the Republican Party ticket in 1878?
16. Why did Democrats refer to members of the Republican Party as “Black
Republicans” during the Election of 1856?