Answer:
The Democrats won the election of 1852 because their candidate, Franklin Pierce, was able to secure a majority of the electoral votes. Pierce ran against the Whig Party candidate Winfield Scott and the Free Soil Party candidate John P. Hale.
Step-by-step explanation:
Several factors contributed to the Democratic victory in the 1852 election:
Party Unity: The Democratic Party was relatively united behind Pierce, while the Whig Party was divided on key issues like slavery. This division weakened the Whigs' ability to mount a strong campaign.
Popular Support: Pierce, a former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, had a moderate and non-controversial image that appealed to many voters. He was able to garner support in both the North and the South, which helped him win key swing states.
Regional Appeal: Pierce's platform, which included support for the Compromise of 1850 (an attempt to settle disputes over slavery in the newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War), appealed to both Northern and Southern voters, making him a more palatable candidate to a broader range of voters.
Whig Party Troubles: The Whig Party was in decline by 1852 due to internal divisions over issues like slavery and the growing anti-slavery sentiment in the North. This weakened their ability to compete effectively in the election.
Third-Party Impact: The Free Soil Party, which was opposed to the spread of slavery into new territories, did siphon off some votes from the major parties, but it did not win any states in the Electoral College.
Franklin Pierce ultimately won the 1852 presidential election, becoming the 14th President of the United States. His presidency, however, was marked by increasing sectional tensions over slavery, leading to the eventual outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.