Editing Winfield Scott Hancock (section)

==Election of 1880==
{{Main|1880 United States presidential election}}

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!Hancock after the War
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File:Winfield Scott Hancock - Brady-Handy.jpg
File:Winfield Scott Hancock, 1824-86.jpg
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===Democratic convention===
Hancock's name had been proposed several times for the Democratic nomination for president, but he never captured a majority of delegates. In 1880, however, Hancock's chances improved. President Hayes had promised not to run for a second term, and the previous Democratic nominee, Tilden, declined to run again due to poor health.<ref>Jordan, pp. 255–59.</ref> Hancock faced several competitors for the nomination, including [[Thomas A. Hendricks]], [[Allen G. Thurman]], [[Stephen Johnson Field]], and [[Thomas F. Bayard]]. Hancock's neutrality on the [[Gold standard#The gold exchange standard|monetary question]], and his lingering support in the South (owing to his General Order Number 40) meant that Hancock, more than any other candidate, had nationwide support.<ref>Jordan, p. 262.</ref> When the [[1880 Democratic National Convention|Democratic convention]] assembled in [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]] in June 1880, Hancock led on the first ballot, but did not have a majority.<ref name=walker306>Walker, p. 306.</ref> By the second ballot, Hancock received the requisite two-thirds, and [[William Hayden English]] of [[Indiana]] was chosen as his running mate.<ref>Walker, p. 306; Jordan, p. 281.</ref><ref>Tucker, pp. 300–01.</ref>

===Campaign against Garfield===
[[File:1880DemocraticCampaignPoster.png|thumb|Hancock-English election poster]]
The Republicans [[1880 Republican National Convention|nominated]] [[James A. Garfield]], a Congressman from [[Ohio]] and a skillful politician, as well as a former general from the Civil War. Hancock and the Democrats expected to carry the [[Solid South]], but needed to add a few of the Northern states to their total to win the election. The practical differences between the parties were few, and the Republicans were reluctant to attack Hancock personally because of his heroic reputation.<ref>Jordan, pp. 292–96; Walker, p. 307.</ref> The one policy difference the Republicans were able to exploit was a statement in the Democratic platform endorsing "a [[Tariff in American history|tariff]] for revenue only."<ref>Jordan, p. 297.</ref> Garfield's campaigners used this statement to paint the Democrats as unsympathetic to the plight of industrial laborers, a group that would benefit by a high protective tariff. The tariff issue cut Democratic support in industrialized Northern states, which were essential in establishing a Democratic majority.<ref>Jordan, pp. 297–301.</ref> In the end, the Democrats and Hancock failed to carry any of the Northern states they had targeted, with the exception of [[New Jersey]]. Hancock lost the election to Garfield. Garfield polled only 39,213 more votes than Hancock, the popular vote being 4,453,295 for Garfield and 4,414,082 for Hancock. The electoral count, however, had a much larger spread, as Garfield polled 214 electoral votes and Hancock only 155. Garfield would be shot four months into his presidency on July 2, 1881, and would die on September 19, 1881.<ref>Jordan, p. 306.</ref>