MAP 20.1 The Presidential Elections of 1880, 1884, and 1888
The anatomy of hard-fought, narrowly won presidential campaigns is evident in this trio of electoral maps. First, note the equal division of the popular vote between Republicans and Democrats. Second, note the persistent pattern of electoral votes, as states overwhelmingly went to the same party in all three elections. Here, we can identify who determined the outcomes — “swing” states, such as New York and Indiana, whose vote shifted every four years and always in favor of the winning candidate.