History of Europe

How was government organized in the 1840s?

Federal Government

* The federal government was relatively weak in the 1840s.

* The bureaucracy was small and inefficient.

* The president had limited power.

* Congress was often gridlocked by sectional disputes.

State and Local Government

* The states had much more power than the federal government.

* They controlled most aspects of everyday life, such as education, law enforcement, and transportation.

* Local governments were even more powerful, responsible for providing basic services such as water, sewage, and fire protection.

Political Parties

* Two main political parties dominated American politics in the 1840s: the Democrats and the Whigs.

* The Democrats were generally more supportive of states' rights and individual liberty.

* The Whigs were more supportive of a strong federal government and economic development.

Elections

* Elections were held every two years for the House of Representatives and every four years for the presidency.

* Only white men over the age of 21 were allowed to vote.

* Voter turnout was low, typically around 50% of eligible voters.

The Electoral College

* The president was not directly elected by the people.

* Instead, each state held an election to choose a slate of electors who would then vote for president.

* The candidate who received the majority of electoral votes became president.