On July 16, President Donald Trump addressed the nation to push the SAVE America Act and make our elections safe. In his speech, Trump did not repeat his claim that he won the 2020 election, but he did declassify documents showing Chinese influence in the election and supposed fraud in Michigan.
Whether people agree or disagree with those claims, debates over election fraud are not new in the United States. Historically Speaking, similar accusations have been made over the years but no more so than the presidential election of 1856. In that election, Democrats were accused of paying people to vote, bringing in voters from other states to cast illegal ballots, and rapidly naturalizing immigrants so they could vote before Election Day.
The election of 1856 was one of the most divisive elections in American history. It took place during a period of growing tension over slavery, immigration, and the future of our country.
While the political landscape has changed, many traditional campaign methods remain the same. Political parties continue to mobilize voters through rallies, parades, speeches, newspapers, and local party organizations. Without radio, television, or the internet, voters in 1856 were, in many ways, more politically engaged than people are today.
In earlier elections, voting was largely based on party loyalty rather than the individual candidates. However, with the death of the Whig Party and the emergence of the new anti-slavery Republican Party and the anti-immigrant Know-Nothing Party competing for anti-Democratic voters, parties could no longer depend solely on their traditional supporters. Instead, they worked harder than ever to attract new voters by focusing on the major issues dividing the country and targeting specific groups of people. Campaigns increasingly appealed to voters based on regional loyalties, such as whether they lived in the North or South, religious identity — particularly Protestants or Catholics — and whether they were native-born Americans or recent immigrants. One area the two new parties could agree on was that the Democratic Party was cheating to win the election.
One of the most common accusations was that they paid people to vote. During the mid-1800s, the secret ballot had not yet been adopted, meaning that voting was conducted publicly. Political parties could easily see how individuals voted, making it possible to buy votes. Democratic political organizations in many large cities were known to offer money, food, drinks, or jobs in exchange for votes. Urban political machines, like Tammany Hall, often rewarded loyal supporters with financial incentives. While these practices were not illegal everywhere, they were widely condemned but difficult to stop.
Another allegation was that Democrats brought in voters from other states to cast illegal ballots. Newspapers accused Democratic organizations of transporting groups of men, sometimes called “floaters,” from one location to another so they could vote multiple times or in places where they did not legally reside. These accusations were especially common in large cities where voter registration systems were weak and election oversight was limited.
Perhaps the most controversial issue involved the naturalization of immigrants before the election. During the 1850s, large numbers of Irish and German immigrants arrived in the United States. Many eventually became supporters of the Democratic Party because Democrats generally favored immigrant rights and opposed the anti-immigrant policies promoted by the Know-Nothing Party. Democrats often encouraged immigrants to complete the naturalization process as quickly as possible so they could vote. In some cities, courts held special naturalization sessions shortly before Election Day, allowing thousands of immigrants to become citizens in time to participate in the election. While these naturalizations were often legal, critics argued that some proceedings were rushed or improperly conducted. Opponents claimed that fraudulent naturalizations allowed people who were not legally qualified to vote.
The Know-Nothing Party made these accusations a central part of its campaign. Because the party opposed immigration and feared growing Catholic political influence, it argued that Democrats relied on immigrant votes obtained through corruption and fraud.
Despite these accusations, most historians agree that election fraud alone did not decide the outcome of the 1856 election. Democrat James Buchanan won the presidential election because of several larger political factors, including divisions within the opposition and a growing sectional conflict over slavery. Buchanan carried nearly every slave state and several key northern states, while Republican candidate John C. Frémont won much of the North but failed to gain support in the South. Know-Nothing candidate Millard Filmore only won Maryland.
The election of 1856 demonstrates both the strengths and weaknesses of American democracy during the 19th century. Citizens participated in larger numbers than today, but elections were often influenced by corruption, weak election laws, and fierce political competition. The election ultimately reflected a nation deeply divided over slavery, immigration, and political power. These controversies helped expose weaknesses in the voting system and eventually contributed to reforms such as the secret ballot, stronger voter registration laws, and more closely regulated elections.
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James Finck is a professor of American history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He can be reached at james.finck@swoknews.com.