1787 Constitutional convention rejects direct election of president by popular vote; instead, it adopts plan for electors to be apportioned among states in reflection of their representation in Congress, with great deference to states on how they choose electors. Electors were to vote for two candidates. That principle is embedded in Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution.
1800 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (who were, in fact, running mates) receive the same number of electoral votes, sending the decision (as per the Constitution) to the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state receiving one vote, irrespective of population. On the 36th ballot, Jefferson is elected president, and Burr vice president.
1804 The Jefferson-Burr debacle prompted the 12th Amendment, which established distinct elections for president and vice president.
1824 Andrew Jackson beat John Quincy Adams by more than 38,000 votes. Neither had a majority of the Electoral College, so the decision went to the House of Representatives - which chose Adams.
1888 Grover Cleveland ran strong in Southern states and had 95,000 more votes than Benjamin Harrison - but Harrison prevailed in electoral votes and was elected president. Supporters of the Electoral College system viewed this election as evidence of its successful check and balance: The candidate with the most wide-ranging appeal won over a candidate with an intense but narrow regional base.
2000 Republican George W. Bush is elected president despite receiving 500,000 fewer votes than Democrat Al Gore. The election comes down to Florida's 25 electoral votes. In a decisive ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 to effectively stop the recounts, thus delivering Bush the presidency.
1800 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (who were, in fact, running mates) receive the same number of electoral votes, sending the decision (as per the Constitution) to the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state receiving one vote, irrespective of population. On the 36th ballot, Jefferson is elected president, and Burr vice president.
1804 The Jefferson-Burr debacle prompted the 12th Amendment, which established distinct elections for president and vice president.
1824 Andrew Jackson beat John Quincy Adams by more than 38,000 votes. Neither had a majority of the Electoral College, so the decision went to the House of Representatives - which chose Adams.
1888 Grover Cleveland ran strong in Southern states and had 95,000 more votes than Benjamin Harrison - but Harrison prevailed in electoral votes and was elected president. Supporters of the Electoral College system viewed this election as evidence of its successful check and balance: The candidate with the most wide-ranging appeal won over a candidate with an intense but narrow regional base.
2000 Republican George W. Bush is elected president despite receiving 500,000 fewer votes than Democrat Al Gore. The election comes down to Florida's 25 electoral votes. In a decisive ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 to effectively stop the recounts, thus delivering Bush the presidency.
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