<P> Zachary Taylor Whig </P> <P> The United States presidential election of 1848 was the 16th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 7, 1848 . In the aftermath of the Mexican - American War, General Zachary Taylor of the Whig Party defeated Senator Lewis Cass of the Democratic Party . The contest was the first presidential election that took place on the same day in every state, and it was the first time that Election Day was statutorily a Tuesday . </P> <P> Despite Taylor's unclear political affiliations and beliefs, and the Whig opposition to the Mexican - American War, the 1848 Whig National Convention nominated the popular general over party stalwarts such as Henry Clay and Daniel Webster . For vice president, the Whigs nominated Millard Fillmore, a New York Whig known for his moderate views on slavery . Incumbent President James K. Polk, a Democrat, honored his promise not to seek re-election, leaving his party's nomination open . The 1848 Democratic National Convention rejected former President Martin Van Buren's bid for a second term, instead nominating Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan . Van Buren broke from his party to lead the ticket of the Free Soil Party, which opposed to the extension of slavery into the territories . </P> <P> The Whig choice of Zachary Taylor was made almost out of desperation; he was not clearly committed to Whig principles, but he was popular for leading the war effort . The Democrats had a record of prosperity and had acquired the Mexican cession and parts of Oregon country . It appeared almost certain that they would win unless the Whigs picked Taylor . Taylor won a plurality of the popular vote and a majority of the electoral vote, while Van Buren won 10.1% of the popular vote, a strong showing for a third party candidate . </P>

Whom did the free-soil party nominate as its presidential candidate in 1848