United States elections, 1856

The 1856 United States general election elected the members of the 35th United States Congress. Along with the 1854 election, this election saw the start of the Third Party System, as the Republican Party replaced the "Opposition Party" (consisting largely of former Whigs) as the second most powerful party in Congress. Minnesota and Oregon joined the union before the next election, and elected their respective Congressional delegations to the 35th Congress.

In the Presidential election, Democrat former Secretary of State James Buchanan defeated Republican General John Fremont and the American Party candidate, former President Millard Fillmore.[1] Buchanan had defeated incumbent President Franklin Pierce to earn his party's nomination.

In the House, Democrats won several seats to take the plurality, but narrowly missed taking the majority. The Republican Party established itself as the second largest party in the House, replacing the Opposition Party. The American Party lost numerous seats, but continued to maintain a presence in the House.[2] Democrat James Lawrence Orr won election as Speaker of the House.

In the Senate, Democrats won minor gains, maintaining their commanding majority. The Republican Party replaced the Opposition Party as the second largest party, while the American Party picked up a small number of seats.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1856 Presidential Election". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present". United States Senate. Retrieved 25 June 2014.