Final answer:
The Democratic Party was deeply divided by the slavery debate going into the 1860 election, which led to its factionalization and subsequent defeat by the Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln. These divisions persisted and were still evident in the 1876 presidential election, where Democrat Samuel Tilden lost the presidency despite winning the popular vote due to disputed electoral results.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the lead-up to the 1860 presidential election, the Democratic Party faced significant internal strife, primarily over the issue of slavery. This division became evident during their convention in Charleston, South Carolina, where the party split into three different factions. These factions were led by Stephen Douglas, John Breckenridge, and John Bell. This internal division within the Democratic Party proved advantageous for the Republican Party, which managed to secure a victory with their nominee, Abraham Lincoln.
Following Lincoln's election and the subsequent secession of southern states, the rifts within the Democratic Party further deepened. The party's inability to present a united front continued into subsequent elections. In the contested 1876 presidential election, Democrats nominated Samuel Tilden, who campaigned on a platform of reform, particularly focusing on ending the political corruption that had proliferated during the Grant administration. Despite winning the popular vote, Tilden lost the presidency due to disputed electoral votes in several states, highlighting the challenges the Democrats faced in regaining control of the presidency.