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Dbq Electoral College

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The framers of the United States Constitution had a difficult task deciding how this country should be governed. Many challenges to their thoughts, fears, and decisions proliferate even after more than two centuries. Many disagree, for instance, with the way in which our nation's President and Vice President are elected. In essence, The Electoral College is a compromise between the choice of President and Vice President being made by a vote in Congress and being made by a popular vote of the people. While our framers believed the system would protect the country from such an important decision being made by ill-informed persons, or from a power-grabbing Congress, one must grant that the process was instituted in a world where it took weeks …show more content…

In 1824 the election resulted in the presidency of John Quincy Adams as a result of the 12th Amendment. After the Federalist party disintegrated, this election was run solely by Democratic-Republicans. “Adams appointed Henry Clay as Secretary of State which resulted in charges of corrupt bargain” (Martin). Rutherford B. Hayes became president in 1876 after winning one of the most “controversial presidential elections known to date” (Martin). The Compromise of 1877 gave electoral votes to Hayes, marking the first presidential election in “20 years in which a Democratic candidate won majority of popular vote” (Martin). Benjamin Harrison became president in 1888 after favoring the Tariff policy which was the election's principal issue. “Harrison swept the majority of the North and Midwest by a margin of 1% or lower to achieve the majority of the electoral votes” (Kelly). Cleveland lacked a strong campaign and his different policies on currency and tariff reform created many enemies among farmers and industrialists. In 2000 George W. Bush won the election over Al Gore. It took 5 weeks to settle this election which was the “closest election since 1876” (Kelly). Additionally, it was one of the most controversial in history. Requests for recounts abounded; punch card ballots were considered the source of voter error. The Florida Supreme Court recount was halted by the US Supreme Court who decided that principles in recounting were

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