The American Presidential Election of 1820

The ninth episode in a very long series about the American presidential elections from 1788 to the present. In 1820, James Monroe is so popular that no one runs against him for President. Therefore, he wins.

Feeling extra dorky?

All images and music found in the public domain.

[redjirachi]

1820: Era of Good Feelings
1920: Roaring Twenties
2020: Fingers crossed on this one

[awesomeandrewgames]

That fact that 16.1% of voters voted for literally no one is so hilarious

[georgewashington]

1820 was the last presidential election won by someone who was never photographed.

[PriceStats]

Imagine if James Monroe became the sixth president instead of James Monroe staying as 5th president

[FlyinBlaney]

I would vote for Adams to get into a video by Mr. Beat any day.

[cheydinal]

Nice to see that 1.3% of the population was united

[vernonwillis]

A legend has grown up that the one elector who did not vote for James Monroe did so in order that George Washington might retain the honor of being the only president unanimously elected. But he said he wasn't thinking about George Washington. He just thought Monroe was incompetent,

[kayzeaza]

‘No candidate’. Oh so the first protest vote lol

[TheHappyTruckShunter]

"The future looked so, so bright."

And then came the 1824 election....

[ashleighstratmann]

Monroe'a second term also led to the first of only two times in American History where three presidents not only elected two terms but lived through their two terms. The second time won't happen until Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

[jasonmalstrom]

True story: my 7th grade History teacher (at an accredited and award winning public school) claimed the lone elector vote in this election was for George Washington in order to make sure George Washington was the only president to win all the electoral votes. I was confused when I eventual found a book with real data in it.

[josephsaltal]

Didn't William Plumer vote against Monroe because he thought only Washington should have a unanimous Electoral vote?

[xizzerinc.]

Fun fact: This is the only election in the 19th century that had an incumbent vixe president elected with the same president for two full consecutive terms. Daniel D. Tompkins is the only VP with this distinction during the 1800s. The next vice president to accomplish this would not be until 96 years later with Thomas R. Marshall.
The only two VPs who got reelected to a 2nd term (under different presidents I might add), either died or resigned before the end of their second term: George Clinton and John C. Calhoun.

[SharpVCN]

The federalists voting “no candidate” is the same as current day voters voting for Kanye

[scottaznavourian]

Well nixon in 72 and reagan in 84 are comparable as to 'unopposed'. At least in the electoral college

[CalvinKool-Aid]

At 0:54 there is a mistake, on the map it shows Virginia and west Virginia as separate, when they only split during the civil war

[lordgabriel_]

"There are 2 other candidates"
"Who?"
"Me, myself, and I"

[mandel]

the intro is so ineffably shitty, I love it

[adamhenrywalker]

2:21 "Congrats you made it into a Mr beat video"

Mark of shame. Feel very bad for Plumer

[jacobandmore]

I have a book about him called “James Monroe: A Life” written by Tim McGrath. It is really good. Historian Jon Meacham said about this book “A first-rate account of a remarkable life” I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this guy.