The Election of 1840
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. Previously, Van Buren had served as both Secretary of State and Vice President under the administration of Andrew Jackson; both were key figures in the Democratic Party, and both were blamed for the Panic of 1837, an economic depression caused by President Jackson's refusal to renew the charter of the Second Bank of the United States. The Whigs - the main opponents of the Democrats - nicknamed the President "Martin Van Ruin" because of this, and it was looking like he would most assuredly lose his bid for reelection in 1840.
In December of 1839, the Whigs held a national convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Among the candidates for President were Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky, Major General Winfield Scott of New Jersey, and former Senator William Henry Harrison of Ohio.
Henry Clay was the was the main proponent of the American System, an economic policy that would increase tariffs to help the young republic develop industry, as well as keep afloat a strong federal bank. In the close election of 1824, Clay led the House of Representatives to vote John Quincy Adams into office as President; this earned the hatred of future President Andrew Jackson, who would go against Clay on numerous issues, including the construction of the Maysville Road (meant to assist in modernising Clay's home state of Kentucky, which Jackson vetoed as President) and the renewal of the Second Bank of the United States. Despite this impressive service record, Senator Clay was not given the nomination due to a series of Whig losses, which he - as the party's leader - could not separate himself from.
Major General Scott, who held a distinguished military service record, also did not secure the Whig nomination; and so it went to William Henry Harrison.
Harrison had served as Governor of the Indiana Territory, a Congressional Representative from Ohio, a Senator from Ohio, and, most recently, Minister to Colombia. Born in Virginia to a prominent family, Harrison was famous throughout the nation for his service during the Battle of Tippecanoe, earning him his nickname of "Old Tippecanoe".
The campaign went largely in Harrison's favor; despite the Democrats' attempts to make Harrison seem like an old man who had little in common with the average American, their insults were flipped around by the Whigs, who made Harrison out to be a "log-cabin man", similar to how Jackson had campaigned as a man of the people. In addition, the Whigs made Van Buren out to be an elitist.
"Old Tip he wore a homespun hat, he had no ruffled shirt; wirt-wirt,
But Matt he has the golden plate, and he's a little squirt; wirt-wirt!"
- Popular Whig chant from the 1840 election
But Matt he has the golden plate, and he's a little squirt; wirt-wirt!"
- Popular Whig chant from the 1840 election
In the end, Van Buren was left with 46.8% of the popular vote, and 60 electoral votes; Harrison, on the other hand, had received 52.9% of the popular vote, and 234 electoral votes; a landslide victory for the Whigs.
The inauguration of William H. Harrison, March 4, 1841
It was a cold, wet day in the capital. Many Americans gathered outside of the Capitol, awaiting the arrival of the President-elect. Quiet murmurs turned into cheers as the galloping of horses approached. As the carriage rode up to the steps of Capitol Hill, Vice President John Tyler looked on solemnly. He had been sworn in earlier that day, giving a three-minute speech and swearing in several new Senators. He could not help but smile a bit as the carriage door opened and the old war hero emerged, clad in top hat and overcoat. Alongside Harrison was his wife, Anna Symmes, and they both made their way up the steps as the crowd cheered and applauded. Tyler did not plan to be involved in the administration whatsoever, and he was sure that Harrison was content with that.
Harrison was sworn in by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. Despite being 68-years-old, Old Tippecanoe shrugged off the cold as though it were nothing, with little assistance from his great coat.
"CALLED from a retirement which I had supposed was to continue for the residue of my life to fill the chief executive office of this great and free nation, I appear before you, fellow-citizens, to take the oaths which the Constitution prescribes as a necessary qualification for the performance of its duties; and in obedience to a custom coeval with our Government and what I believe to be your expectations I proceed to present to you a summary of the principles which will govern me in the discharge of the duties which I shall be called upon to perform."
Harrison's inaugural address had been shortened and edited by his good friend Daniel Webster, a fellow Whig and Northerner. Originally, Webster had edited the speech down to about two hours; however, he later revised it once more, so that it was only half-an-hour long. Harrison was peeved at this, though he made sure that the address made his motives clear and concise. In the end, all went well, and the future was looking bring for the United States of America.
"I have this day given to discharge all the high duties of my exalted station according to the best of my ability, and I shall enter upon their performance with entire confidence in the support of a just and generous people."
President William Henry Harrison