Use the electoral map and table to analyze the Election of 1912. Please explain the following:
- Who won and what party were they from?
- Describe the outcome, mentioning both the electoral votes and popular votes
- Mentioning Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, explain why William H. Taft lost
- Highlight one interesting piece of information that makes this election stand out to you and explain why
In the 1912 election, Woodrow Wilson of the Democratic Party won with 435 electoral votes and 6,293,454 popular votes. William H. Taft of the Republican Party received 8 electoral votes and 3,484,980 popular votes. Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, who ran as a third-party candidate, received 88 electoral votes and 4,119,207 popular votes. Taft lost because Roosevelt split the Republican vote, taking away votes that would have otherwise gone to Taft. This election stands out to me because it was the first time a third-party candidate received more than 5% of the popular vote. This was a significant milestone in American politics, as it showed that third-party candidates could be viable contenders in presidential elections.
