Which candidate won the 1856 presidential election?

James Buchanan won the 1856 presidential election. He was the candidate from the Democratic Party and received considerable support as he was seen as a moderate candidate capable of unifying the party and the nation during a period of increasing sectional tensions over slavery. His campaign focused on maintaining the Union and avoiding civil conflict, which resonated with many voters at the time.

Buchanan's victory was significant as it came during a tumultuous period in American history marked by debates over slavery, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and rising sectionalism. His administration faced immediate challenges related to these issues, including the tensions leading up to the American Civil War. Buchanan's presidency is often criticized for his inability to address the deepening divisions in the country, but his election did highlight the intense political climate of the era.

The other candidates, while noteworthy, did not win the presidency. John C. Fremont was the first candidate from the newly formed Republican Party and focused on opposing the expansion of slavery, while Millard Fillmore represented the Know-Nothing Party, which was primarily centered on nativism and anti-immigrant sentiment. Franklin Pierce had already served as president prior to Buchanan but lost re-election after his controversial presidency, which was marked by the destabilizing effects