What war propelled General Zachary Taylor into the national spotlight and helped him win the Presidential election in 1848?

Answer 1

Taylor was a war hero and so was a public figure. He was a slave owner so he picked up southern votes, but he took no official stand on the issue of allowing slavery in the territories newly acquired from Mexico. His opponent favored popular sovereignty- letting the territories decide the issue of slavery for themselves and this stance did not please anti-slavery people. Ex-president Martin Van Buren ran as a third party , Free-Soil, candidate and got enough votes particularly in New York to throw it to Taylor.

Answer 2

The incumbent president Polk declined to run for a second term which opened up the field. Taylor was a national hero for his success as a general in the recent Mexican War and having never been in politics had no political baggage. Slavery was the big issue, particularly what to do about the new territory acquired from Mexico. Taylor's opponent, Lewis Cass,came out against banning slavery in the new territory, but favored letting the people living in these territories vote on whether of not to allow slavery. Taylor, who was a major slave owner, did not take a stance on the issue, but pro-slavery people assumed he was on their side. Ex-president Martin Van Buren ran as anti-slavery third party candidate and pulled votes away from Cass and no doubt cost him New York, which was enough to swing a close election to Taylor.

Answer 3

He was elected after being selected nominee for the Whig Party when during the election, he beat Lewis Cass, a Democratic nominee.

Answer 4

Mexican-American War