Election of 1836

Martin Van Buren used his close ties to Andrew Jackson to secure the nomination of the Democratic party in the election of 1836. The Whigs, a party created in opposition to Jackson and his policies, ran four candidates.  The intent was to split the vote enough that Van Buren would not gain a majority of electoral votes.  The plan failed, and Van Buren won the needed electoral votes to become our 8th president. (For more on the Whigs, see our infographic here.)


campaign poster

Martin Van Buren: Eighth President of the United States, hand-colored lithograph by N. Currier, 1835-36, Library of Congress

election of 1836 map

National Atlas


© 2021 Periodic Presidents, PJ and Jamie Creek