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Wild and Wacky Elections

Check out some of the craziest moments in U.S. election history!

By Jessica McKenna-Ratjen

From the November 2020 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will find factor pairs using a T-chart to answer questions related to presidential elections.

Lexile: 990L; 660L

Focus Area: Numbers and Operations,

The Story
Resources

1800: Tough Tie

According to the law at the time, the candidate with the most electoral votes became president and the second-place candidate became vice president (see What is the Electoral College?, right). But in this election, Thomas Jefferson and his opponent Aaron Burr both won 73 electoral votes. It took 5 days and 3 dozen ballots for electors to call Jefferson the winner. The experience was so difficult it led lawmakers to pass the 12th Amendment. This changed the procedure for electing presidents and vice presidents.

Election laws were different in 1800 than they are now. In 1800, the candidate who got the most electoral votes became president. The candidate who came in second became vice president (see What Is the Electoral College?, right). Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr were opponents in the 1800 election. But they both won 73 electoral votes! Electors took five days to decide who should win. They cast three dozen ballots! Finally, the electors named Jefferson the winner. The experience was very difficult. Lawmakers decided to pass the 12th Amendment. This amendment changed the rules for electing presidents and vice presidents.

1912: Surviving to Speak

Ron Borresen

During his bid for a second full term, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt stood at the podium and unbuttoned his vest. He revealed a bloodstained shirt and told his supporters, “I have just been shot!” Despite the assassination attempt, the former president gave an hour-and-a-half-long speech. Roosevelt went on to lose the election, but the speech itself helped save his life. The bullets passed through 50 pages of written remarks Roosevelt had in his jacket pocket. This slowed the bullets to a less damaging speed.

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was running for a second full term as president. He was about to make a speech. He stood at the podium. He unbuttoned his vest. His shirt was stained with blood. Roosevelt told his supporters, “I have just been shot!” Someone had tried to assassinate him. The former president still gave his speech. It lasted for an hour and a half. Roosevelt lost the election. But the speech itself helped save his life. Roosevelt had kept his written speech in his jacket pocket. It was 50 pages long. The bullets passed through those 50 pages of writing. This slowed the bullets to a less damaging speed.

1920: Unlikely Campaign

Ron Borresen

In 1920, Eugene Debs ran his fifth campaign for president from an unusual place—prison! As leader of the Socialist Party and a protester against World War I, many people in government considered him a threat. Debs was arrested and jailed for his speeches. But he also became a celebrity for his positions. Debs lost, but he earned almost 1 million out of the 26 million votes cast in this election.

Eugene Debs ran for president in 1920. It was his fifth campaign. He ran it from an unusual place—prison! Debs was the leader of the Socialist Party. He had protested against World War I. Many people in government considered him a threat. Debs was arrested and jailed for his speeches. But he also became a celebrity for his positions. Debs lost. But he earned almost 1 million out of the 26 million votes cast in the 1920 election.

What Is the Electoral College?

Every four years on Election Day, American voters cast their ballots for president of the United States. Those ballots make up the popular vote. But the popular vote doesn’t decide the election. The winner is decided by a system called the Electoral College.

Americans vote for the next president of the United States on Election Day. Election Day occurs every four years. Voters cast ballots with the name of the person they want to be president. These ballots make up the popular vote. But the popular vote doesn’t decide the election. The winner is decided by a system called the Electoral College.

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When most U.S. voters cast a ballot, they’re really voting for electors. Electors are people who have promised to vote for the candidate who wins the majority of the vote in their state. They meet after Election Day to officially cast their votes.

Most U.S. voters are really voting for electors when they cast their ballots. Electors are people who have promised to vote for the candidate who wins the majority of the vote in their state. These electors meet after Election Day to officially cast their votes.