History of the United States II / Unit 5 USH2 0626 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
A Realignment
The idea
For twenty years every president had won with less than half the popular vote. In eighteen ninety-six McKinley won a majority, the first in twenty-four years, in an election with historically high turnout. McKinley's victory for business and the gold standard ended two decades of minority presidents, and the Populists, having fused with the Democrats, never regained their separate strength. A realigning election reshapes who votes for which party, not only who wins.
In practice
A string of minority presidents ending in one decisive majority.
Where people slip
The trap is treating eighteen ninety-six as one more close contest. The contrast with the minority presidents of this unit is what makes it a realignment. The course marks three: eighteen ninety-six here, nineteen thirty-two in unit eleven, and nineteen sixty-eight in unit fifteen.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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