FROM GENERAL TO PRESIDENT
The 1848 Presidential election saw Zachary Taylor use his victory at Buena vista To rise To The highest office in american Politics
although Taylor had arguably scraped his victory at Buena Vista he was hailed as a national hero in the american national press. ‘Old rough and ready’ political clubs, called after Taylor’s nickname, almost immediately sprang up after the battle to support his candidacy for the presidency of the USA. Taylor had never even voted prior to 1848 and his political opinions were vague, which made him a vacuum for other peoples’ beliefs. Many southerners believed he supported slavery, while the Whig Party believed he was a firm defender of the Union.
in reality, Taylor could be seen to support both views. He owned slaves but didn’t support expanding slavery into the new lands seized from Mexico. at the same time he disagreed with Union states seceding because he had seen too many comrades die in battle fighting for the whole USA.
Taylor ultimately became the Whig candidate against President James K. Polk’s Democratic nominee, Lewis cass. The election was partly personal, as Taylor blamed Polk for allowing Winfield Scott to cut his army in half before Buena Vista. He ran for office largely based on his national appeal as a war hero and won the election on 7 november 1848. Despite his electoral victory, Taylor died 16 months into his term on 9 July 1850.