1968 Presidential Election Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is 1968 Presidential Election?
The 1968 Presidential Election was one of the most tumultuous elections in American history. The election took place during a period of great civil unrest and social change, as the Vietnam War continued to rage on with no end in sight and the Civil Rights movement pushing for greater equality. It was also a highly contested election between Republican candidate Richard Nixon, a political moderate from California, and Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota.In terms of policy, both candidates had similar views on many issues such as the war in Vietnam, civil rights legislation, and economic policies. However, Nixon ran an effective campaign which focused on law and order and appealed to voters who were concerned about the growing civil unrest occurring in many cities throughout America. At the same time, Humphrey’s campaign was hampered by his association with President Lyndon Johnson’s increasingly unpopular Vietnam policy.Despite being heavily favored to win by polls taken before Election Day, Nixon narrowly defeated Humphrey in a close race which saw him take 301 electoral votes while his opponent secured 191 electoral votes despite winning more popular votes overall. The results were seen as a major victory for the Republican Party after several consecutive losses at presidential elections between 1932-1964. The 1968 Presidential Election changed American politics forever as it marked an end to liberal dominance of American politics that had existed since Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal program following World War II. It also began an era characterized by conservative politicians such as Ronald Reagan who championed free market capitalism and militarism over government intervention or welfare programs aimed at helping people out of poverty or unemployment. Moreover, this election has been credited with laying down some of the groundwork for what is now known as the culture wars – a battle between conservatives and liberals over values such as gun control or abortion rights that continues to divide Americans today.