The American Presidential Election of 1840

The 14th episode in a very long series about the American presidential elections from 1788 to the present. In 1840, the Whig Party brings Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, and Van Buren faces an uphill battle as the U.S. economy struggles.

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The 14th Presidential election in American history took place from Friday, October 30, to Wednesday, December 2, 1840. Martin Van Buren fought for re-election during a time when the economy was not doing so well. The country was in the middle of a horrible recession began as a financial crisis referred to as the Panic of 1837. Due to this, President Van Buren was unpopular. But you know who was more unpopular? His Vice President, Richard Mentor Johnson. The Democratic Party actually refused to re-nominate him. In fact, they didn’t officially nominate anybody, although many wanted James Polk or Littleton Tazewell.

The Whig Party, meanwhile, was gaining strength, and learned their lesson from the last election, this time uniting behind just one candidate for President- William Henry Harrison. Not only was Harrison a well established politician, but, like Andrew Jackson, he was a bit of a war hero. Harrison’s running mate was John Tyler, a former Senator from Virginia.

Harrison was the first candidate to actively campaign to be President. His supporters came up with a pretty catchy slogan- “Tippecanoe and Tyler too.” Get it? Of course you don’t. Well basically, Tippecanoe referred to Harrison’s military victory over the Shawnee Indians on November 7, 1811 at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Because of this, the Whigs aggressively organized to promote him as a war hero.

But the Democrats argued that Harrison was too old to be President.. Many called him “Granny,”implying that maybe he was senile. The Whigs fought back by portraying Martin Van Buren as a rich snob out of touch with the people and Harrison as a man of the common people from the Western frontier. In reality, it was Harrison who was richer than Van Buren, but most Americans wouldn’t know that by the campaign.

The election of 1840 was more about image and less about substance. In fact, the Whigs were just fine if Harrison didn’t argue policy or about issues, because the country was pretty divided at the time. Instead, the Whig strategy was to avoid difficult national issues such as slavery and instead focus on how the Van Buren administration ruined the economy.

Interestingly enough, the Anti-Masonic Party also nominated William Henry Harrison for President, but with Daniel Webster as his running mate instead of Tyler.

Also, one notable third party, the Liberty Party, sprung up in 1840 with its primary goal to end slavery. They ran abolitionist James Birney for President and Thomas Earle as his running mate.

[patrioticconservative]

I like how this video was able to cover both the election and entire presidency of William Henry harrison.

[theunreadyone]

“The same shall devolve on the Vice President” makes it sound like if the president dies so should the Vice President.

[hoodedmaniac]

William H. Harrison: (portrayed as senile)

Martin Van Buren: (portrayed as a rich snob)

Me: Hey I've seen this one

[niccolorichter]

Fun Fact :this is the only election in American history in which Mississippi and Alabama voted for different candidates.

[darkchocolate]

You could make an argument that John Tyler claiming the responsibility of President and not acting President is an underrated move.

[jimmy]

The Whigs call Martin Van Buren “Martin Van Ruin” 😂😂 Political parties love to roast their opposing candidates!

[j.l.]

William Henry Harrison: I'm not too old to be president


Also William Henry Harrison: *Dies 1 month after becoming president*

[georgewashington]

If Henry Clay had run this time, he would have easily won.

[josestarks]

Fun fact: Henry Clay was offered the Vice Presidency for both Harrison in 1840 and Taylor in 1848. BOTH times the President died.

[PopsicleIncorporated]

I've been reading your descriptions about wanting to finish before the 2016 election, and I noticed you were going on a week by week basis. I was thinking "he's really procrastinating, he'll have to do a million all at once" before I realized that this one was uploaded in 2015, not 16.

[gunterke]

Harrison probably didn't die of pneunomia. His doctor stated that as the cause of death, but in 2014, Jane, McHugh and Philip A Mackowiak analysed those record and the symptoms are wrong if it were pneumonia. It is more likely that he died of septic shock due to unclean water being used in the White House. This probably also affected both Polk (died very shortly after his one term) as well as Taylor.

[williamcfox]

I'd never heard of the liberty party before this. interesting stuff!

[simonster-]

You should do a video on the Curse of Tippecanoe, the 20 year election curse where every president who's been elected on a year ending with 0 dies somehow or almost dies since Harrison.

[wave]

*William Henry Harrison oldest President*
Joe Biden: Hold my... you know the thing

[drewmusic]

That that plays every time you announce a winner gets me every time.

[MeesterTweester]

Meanwhile in 2020, the first election where all major party candidates are age 70 or older

[karsentubeyt]

If Harrison lost he would never have died as early.

[drewmusic]

"That's PRESIDENT, Tyler now!"

[nathanminor]

Oldest president: Harrison
Reagan: nope
Trump: Nope
Biden: Nope

[Ryan-lrgy]

“Harrison is too old, he’s 68!” Oh how the times have changed