The 1848 Democratic National Convention was the presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party held in Baltimore, Maryland. The convention took place on June 6 and 7, 1848, at the Maryland Institute (now the Baltimore City College). Delegates from the various state Democratic parties convened to select the party’s candidates for the 1848 United States presidential election.
Key outcomes
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Presidential nominee | Lewis Cass of Michigan, former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State (1845‑1848). |
| Vice‑presidential nominee | William O. Butler of Kentucky, former U.S. Representative and War of 1812 veteran. |
| Platform highlights | • Support for the acquisition of territories obtained from Mexico after the Mexican‑American War. • Endorsement of the principle of “popular sovereignty,” allowing settlers in the new territories to decide the status of slavery. • Advocacy for a protective tariff and internal improvements (infrastructure projects). |
| Attendance | Approximately 400 delegates representing the 31 states and territories with Democratic organization at the time. |
| Notable proceedings | The convention adopted a resolution opposing the Wilmot Proviso, which sought to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. The platform reflected a moderate stance aimed at preserving party unity amid growing sectional tensions over slavery. |
Historical significance
- The 1848 convention was the first Democratic convention to nominate a candidate (Lewis Cass) who explicitly endorsed popular sovereignty as a means to address the expansion of slavery into new territories.
- The Democratic ticket of Cass and Butler was defeated in the general election by the Whig candidates Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.
- The issues debated at the convention foreshadowed the sectional divisions that would later intensify within the Democratic Party and the nation, contributing to the political realignments of the 1850s.
