A sampler is an opportunity for you to learn about an important and interesting topic. This sampler concerns close Presidential Elections in American history. You will learn about elections in which the candidate who received the most popular votes did not win the election. You will learn how disputed elections resulted in changes to the U.S. Constitution. You will learn about the people and issues involved in some of the most hotly-contested presidential elections in our history.
By exploring the websites listed here and answering the questions relating to each one, you will gain a deeper understanding of how our remarkable electoral system works.
1. How did the development of political parties create confusion in the presidential election of 1800?
2. Why did the opponents of Thomas Jefferson decide to support Aaron Burr?
3. What body decided the outcome of the election and how many ballots did it take?
4. What change to the U.S. Constitution resulted from this election?
1. Who were the four candidates for president in the 1824 campaign?
2. Although Andrew Jackson won the most electoral votes, why was the outcome decided by the House of Representatives?
3. What was the supposed "corrupt bargain" that resulted in John Quincy Adams becoming the sixth President of the United States?
1. Which candidate received the most popular votes in the 1876 election?
2. Which states' electoral votes were disputed?
3. What were the "returning boards" and how did they affect the outcome of the voting in southern states?
4. How were the two political parties represented on the Electoral Commission?
5. What promises did Hayes make to Southern congressmen to get them to call off the filibuster to obstruct the counting of the electoral votes?
1. What was the central issue in the campaign of 1888?
2. Which candidate won the popular vote?
3. Which two states' electoral votes cost Cleveland the election?
1. Who were the two candidates in the 2000 election?
2. Who was the Florida Secretary of State who was responsible for certifying the election results?
3. What was the U.S. Supreme Court's argument in ruling that the Florida Supreme Court's order to recount some ballots was unconstitutional?
4. Because of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, which candidate received Florida's electoral votes and became President?