Between the end of the Civil War and the mid-20th century, Tennessee was part of the Democratic Solid South, but had the largest Republican minority of any former Confederate state.

[1] During this time, East Tennessee was heavily Republican and the western two thirds mostly voted Democratic, with the latter dominating the state.

The result of the election, with the victory of an ardent opponent of slavery, spurred the secession of eleven states, including Tennessee, and brought about the American Civil War.

The election was the only one in history to be decided by the House of Representatives under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution after no candidate secured a majority of the electoral vote.

To the extent that a popular vote was held, it was primarily directed to filling the office of vice president.