The 1868 United States presidential election was the 21st quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 1868. In the first election of the Reconstruction Era, Republican nominee Ulysses S. Grant defeated Horatio Seymour of the Democratic Party. It was the first presidential election to take place after the conclusion of the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery. It was the first election in which African Americans could vote in the reconstructed Southern states, in accordance with the First Reconstruction Act.
The Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party, originating from the party's founding in 1854, some 6 years before the Civil War, until the Compromise of 1877, which effectively ended Reconstruction. They called themselves "Radicals" because of their goal of immediate, complete, and permanent eradication of slavery, without compromise. They were opposed during the War by the Moderate Republicans, and by the pro-slavery and anti-Reconstruction Democratic Party as well as liberals in the Northern United States during Reconstruction. Radicals led efforts after the war to establish civil rights for former slaves and fully implement emancipation. After weaker measures in 1866 resulted in violence against former slaves in the rebel states, Radicals pushed the Fourteenth Amendment and statutory protections through Congress. They opposed allowing ex-Confederate officers to retake political power in the Southern United States, and emphasized equality, civil rights and voting rights for the "freedmen", i.e., former slaves who had been freed during or after the Civil War by the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment.
The 1868 and 1869 United States House of Representatives elections coincided with the 1868 United States presidential election, which was won by Ulysses S. Grant.
The 40th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1867, to March 4, 1869, during the third and fourth years of Andrew Johnson's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Eighth Census of the United States in 1860. Both chambers had a Republican majority. In the Senate, the Republicans had the largest majority a party has ever held.
The 1868 United States presidential election in California was held on November 3, 1868 as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. State voters chose five representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 and 1869 United States Senate elections were elections which had the Republican Party maintain their majority in the United States Senate. However, six former Confederate states were also readmitted separately from the regular election, each electing two Republicans. This increased the Republicans' already overwhelming majority to the largest proportion of seats ever controlled by the party.
The 1869 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on January 19, 1869. Incumbent Charles Sumner was re-elected to a fourth term in office.
The 1869 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on January 19, 1869. John Scott was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.
The 1868 United States elections was held on November 3, electing the members of the 41st United States Congress. The election took place during the Reconstruction Era, and many Southerners were barred from voting. However, Congress's various Reconstruction Acts required southern states to allow Black men to vote, and their voting power was significant to the elections results.
The 1872 United States presidential election in Georgia took place on November 5, 1872, as part of the 1872 United States presidential election. Voters chose 11 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1864 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 8, 1864, as part of the 1864 United States presidential election. Voters chose eight representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in West Virginia took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. West Virginia voters chose five representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in Tennessee took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. Tennessee voters chose 10 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in North Carolina took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. North Carolina voters chose 9 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in Nevada took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. Nevada voters chose three representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in Nebraska took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. State voters chose three representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in Missouri took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. Voters chose 11 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in Minnesota took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 United States presidential election. State voters chose four representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The 1868 United States presidential election in Alabama took place on November 3, 1868, as part of the 1868 presidential election. Alabama voters chose eight representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.