\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|}
\hline Election of 1864 Candidates & Party & Electoral Vote & Popular Vote \\
\hline Abraham Lincoln (IL) & National Union (Republican) & 212 & [tex]$2,218,388$[/tex] \\
\hline George B. McClellan (NY) & Democratic & 21 & [tex]$1,812,807$[/tex] \\
\hline Votes not Cast (Confederacy) & & 80 & \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

Based on the data in the chart, which of the following statements is most accurate?

A. McClellan won the popular vote but not the electoral vote.
B. Lincoln won the popular vote but not the electoral vote.
C. If the 80 votes not cast were for McClellan, Lincoln still had the majority.
D. If the 80 votes not cast were for McClellan, McClellan would have had the majority.



Answer :

To answer the question accurately, let's break down the data given in the chart and evaluate the statements one by one.

Step 1: Understand the popular and electoral vote totals

From the chart:
- Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
- Electoral Votes: 212
- Popular Votes: 2,218,388

- George B. McClellan (Democratic)
- Electoral Votes: 21
- Popular Votes: 1,812,807

- Votes not Cast (Confederacy)
- Electoral Votes: 80
- Popular Votes: Not specified

Step 2: Evaluate the statements

Statement 1: "McClellan won the popular vote but not the electoral vote."
- Lincoln's popular vote: 2,218,388
- McClellan's popular vote: 1,812,807

Lincoln won the popular vote. This statement is false.

Statement 2: "Lincoln won the popular vote but not the electoral vote."
- Lincoln's electoral votes: 212
- McClellan's electoral votes: 21

Lincoln also won the electoral vote. This statement is false.

Statement 3 and 4 both consider the impact of the 80 electoral votes that were not cast.

Statement 3: "If the 80 votes not cast were for McClellan, Lincoln still had the majority."

If the 80 electoral votes not cast were given to McClellan:
- McClellan's new electoral votes: 21 + 80 = 101
- Lincoln's electoral votes remain: 212

Lincoln would still have 212 electoral votes against McClellan's 101 electoral votes, which means Lincoln would still have the majority. This statement is true.

Statement 4: "If the 80 votes not cast were for McClellan, McClellan would have had the majority."

As shown previously, with the additional 80 electoral votes, McClellan would have 101 electoral votes:
- McClellan: 101
- Lincoln: 212

McClellan would not have the majority of electoral votes. This statement is false.

Conclusion

The most accurate statement based on the provided data is:

“If the 80 votes not cast were for McClellan, Lincoln still had the majority.”

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