Free Soil Party

The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States organized in 1848 that petered out by about 1852. Their main purpose was opposing the extension of slavery into the territories, as well as advocating the abolition of slavery itself.

Legacy

The Free Soil Party was a notable third party. More successful than most, it had two Senators and fourteen Representatives sent to the thirty-first Congress. Their presidential nominee in 1848, Martin Van Buren, received 291,616 votes against Zachary Taylor of the Whigs and Lewis Cass of the Democrats, although he received no electoral votes. The Party's "spoiler" effect in 1848 may have put Zachary Taylor into office, in a narrowly-contested election.

Related Topics:
Senators - Representatives - Congress - 1848 - Martin Van Buren - Zachary Taylor - Lewis Cass - Spoiler

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The strength of the party, however, was its representation in Congress. The sixteen elected officials were able to have an influence despite being a small group. It was hard for the party to achieve much success because it competed with the Republicans, who also believed in abolition, and the two eventually merged with the title of Republican.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~