Taylor Good POLI 423 The Election of 1916 - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Taylor GoodPOLI 423

The Election of 1916Slide2

Aftermath of 1912 Election

Wilson defeats a divided Republican party

Teddy Roosevelt becomes jaded and does not wish to return to campaigning

The Progressive Party loses hope for national candidacySlide3

Washington D.C. after the Congressional Election of 1914

Incumbent Woodrow Wilson (D) in White House, eligible for re-election

First Democratic President since 1896

Democratic party controlled House of Representatives 230-196-9 (D-R-3rd) and Senate 56-40 (D-R)Slide4

Issues

Social Policy

Prohibition

SuffrageWomen’s Suffrage

Tariffs

8 Hour Work Day

Foreign Policy

Intervention in Europe (WWI)

Military preparednessConflict with Mexico“Hyphenism”Slide5

Democratic Nominating Convention

Wilson was widely regarded as the unanimous candidate

Was virtually unopposed in primaries

Thomas R. Marshall, Wilson’s current Vice President, was also re-nominated unopposedSlide6

Republican Pre-Convention

Conservative base supports Elihu Root

Teddy Roosevelt, at first spurning nomination by any party, decides to run without appearing to do so

Hughes support based on sentiments that Hughes was the only candidate who could beat Wilson

Several favorite sons and other favored candidates: Charles Fairbanks, Theodore E. Burton, Albert B. Cummins, Robert La Follette, Leonard WoodSlide7

Republican Primaries

Charles Hughes and Teddy Roosevelt refused to allow their names be printed on primary ballots

A large amount of support for unrealistic favorite sons resulted

Despite the primaries, from polls it was apparent that the two real contenders were Hughes and Roosevelt

6,234 votes Roosevelt, 3,220 Hughes (n = 13,258) from a poll by the

Minneapolis Journal

758 Hughes, 275 Roosevelt, 138 Root

(

n = 1,500) from a

Literary Digest

poll Slide8

Republican Nominating Convention

Threat of Progressive split forced support away from Root

Progressives held nominating convention at the same time in Chicago

Progressives threatened to nominate a candidate if Republicans did not nominate a candidate who appealed to Progressives

Hughes was nominated despite no early indication that he would accept nomination or what his stance was on the issues

Hughes won the nomination within 3 ballots

Fairbanks secured Vice-Presidential nomination

was well-liked but not qualified enough in foreign affairs to stand out as Presidential nomineeSlide9

Woodrow Wilson: The Incumbent Democratic Nominee

Devoutly religious

Father

was co-founder of Southern Presbyterian Church in the United States

Intellectual and academic

Taught law alongside Hughes at New York Law School

Former President of Princeton University

Former Governor of New Jersey

Incumbent PresidentSlide10

Wilson’s Party Influence and Issue Stance

Was instrumental in passing Progressive reforms during first term

Reduction of tariffs, anti-child labor, income tax, established Federal Reserve

Known to be liberal and anti-war but not a pacifist

Wanted war preparedness, but did not want to enter war immediately

Had wide respect from the Democratic partySlide11

Charles E. Hughes: The Republican Nominee

Son of a Northern Baptist Reverend

Lawyer and Professor

Reputation of having a cool, distant demeanor

Former Governor of New York

Secretary of State under Taft

Associate Justice of the Supreme CourtSlide12

Hughes Party Influence and Issue Stance

Hughes was respected for being neither liberal nor conservative

Hughes had operated “independent” of the political scene as a member of the Supreme Court

Hughes supported intervention in Europe, women’s suffrage, and protective tariffsSlide13

Campaign Strategy and Issue Emphasis: Democrat

Democrats focused on emphasizing liberal social legislation

Campaign targeted Progressives who did not return to the Republican party and targeted the West

“He Kept Us Out of War”

Wilson was disinterested in campaigning across the country

Attacked hyphenism

Caused issues with Irish-American, Catholic voteSlide14

Campaign Strategy and Issue Emphasis: Republican

Silence on Wilson’s domestic policy

Was a massive hurdle for Hughes

Was forced to appeal to peace-loving Progressives and nationalists interested in war

Failed to court key political supporters in California, Ohio

Teddy Roosevelt campaigned for Hughes, delivered speeches supporting interventionSlide15
Slide16
Slide17

Election Results: Democratic Victory

Despite winning a higher popular vote percentage when compared with the election of 1912, Wilson won fewer electoral votes in 1916 due to the unification of the Republican Party.

PV:

9,126,868-8,548,728 D-R

49.24%-46.12% D-R

EV: 266 votes to win

277-254 D-R

52.2% -47.8% D-RSlide18

Election Analysis

Wilson had strong sectional support in the South and along the Mountain states, while Hughes had sectional support in the Northeast and Mid-North.

Wilson picked up three states he had

not

won in the previous election: Ohio, New Hampshire, California.

Victory hinged on California, whose PV margin was less than 4,000. Hughes was assumed to be the winner before the total vote count from California was transmitted east

.

Wilson appealed to the liberal vote and was able to capture Progressive and Western voters who were unwilling to support HughesSlide19

Comparison between 1912 and 1916

Election of 1912

Election of 1916Slide20

Historical Significance and Future Impact

Wilson became first Democratic President since Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) to succeed himself

Only time a Supreme Court Justice has been nominated for the office of the President

Wilson later intervenes in Europe in 1917

Intervention is paramount to Allied victory

Wilson advocates for League of Nations