United States House election, 1862
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The U.S. House election, 1862 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1862 which occurred in the middle of President Abraham Lincoln's first term. Union defeats in the Civil War, as well as the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, took a toll on Lincoln's popularity, and the opposition Democratic Party gained seats from his Republican Party.
The political career Francis W. Hughes built in Pennsylvania reached its zenith in 1862 with his selection as chairman of the state's Democratic convention. During the ensuing state and Congressional elections, Hughes criticized the Republican administration's handling of the war, especially the issues of suppressing civil liberties and Lincoln's policies toward freeing the slaves. He warned that freed slaves would flood Pennsylvania. Republicans responded by publicizing the fact that Hughes had supported John C. Breckinridge in 1860 and held disunionist sympathies. Investigations into his family and financial background revealed Hughes had southern interests, but he replied that Lincoln himself had brothers-in-law in the Confederate army. Evidence of treason was vague. Although Hughes was able to defend his loyalty to the Union causes, Democratic leaders felt that the controversy impinged on his political effectiveness and injured the Party. Hughes fell from Democratic Party leadership and never regained prominence. [Shankman, 1971]
The Republicans retained control with the support of other Unionist factions in spite of losing a majority.
[edit] Overall results
| Party | Total Seats (change) | Seat percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 72 | +28 | 38.9% |
| Independents | 2 | +1 | 1.0% |
| Republican Party | 86 | -22 | 46.4% |
| Unionist Party | 25 | -5 | 13.5% |
| Totals | 185 | +2 | 100.0% |
[edit] Bibliography
- Nevins, Allan. Ordeal of the Union: vol 6. War Becomes Revolution, 1862-1863 (1960)
- Shankman, Arnold. "Francis W. Hughes and the 1862 Pennsylvania Election." Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 1971 95(3): 383-393. Issn: 0031-4587
- Tap, Bruce. "Race, Rhetoric, and Emancipation: the Election of 1862 in Illinois." Civil War History 1993 39(2): 101-125. Issn: 0009-8078
[edit] See also
- 38th United States Congress
- U.S. Senate election, 1862
| Preceded by 1860 |
U.S. House elections | Succeeded by 1864 |
| United States House of Representatives Elections |
|---|
| 1789 • 1790 • 1792 • 1794 • 1796 • 1798 • 1800 • 1802 • 1804 • 1806 • 1808 • 1810 • 1812 • 1814 • 1816 • 1818 • 1820 • 1822 • 1824 • 1826 • 1828 • 1830 • 1832 • 1834 • 1836 • 1838 • 1840 • 1842 • 1844 • 1846 • 1848 • 1850 • 1852 • 1854 • 1856 • 1858 • 1860 • 1862 • 1864 • 1866 • 1868 • 1870 • 1872 • 1874 • 1876 • 1878 • 1880 • 1882 • 1884 • 1886 • 1888 • 1890 • 1892 • 1894 • 1896 • 1898 • 1900 • 1902 • 1904 • 1906 • 1908 • 1910 • 1912 • 1914 • 1916 • 1918 • 1920 • 1922 • 1924 • 1926 • 1928 • 1930 • 1932 • 1934 • 1936 • 1938 • 1940 • 1942 • 1944 • 1946 • 1948 • 1950 • 1952 • 1954 • 1956 • 1958 • 1960 • 1962 • 1964 • 1966 • 1968 • 1970 • 1972 • 1974 • 1976 • 1978 • 1980 • 1982 • 1984 • 1986 • 1988 • 1990 • 1992 • 1994 • 1996 • 1998 • 2000 • 2002 • 2004 • 2006 • 2008 • Special See also: Senate • President • Governors |
