Which Ones Were Wigs? A Presidential Political Party Quiz

You know that Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are Democrats, and Ronald Reagan and the Bushes are Republicans. But how well do you know the party affiliations of presidents who were dead long before you were born?

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Martin Van Buren

Democrat

Whig

ANSWER: Van Buren was elected as a Democrat in 1836 and defeated by the Whigs in 1840. Van Buren ran again on the Free Soil ticket in 1848. He lost. Van Buren was elected as a Democrat in 1836 and defeated by the Whigs in 1840. Van Buren ran again on the Free Soil ticket in 1848. He lost.

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Zachary Taylor

Democratic-Republican

Whig

ANSWER: Anyone know any good Zachary Taylor trivia? Leave us a comment. Anyone know any good Zachary Taylor trivia? Leave us a comment.

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James Buchanan

Whig

Democrat

ANSWER: From WhiteHouse.gov: "He was elected five times to the House of Representatives; then, after an interlude as Minister to Russia, served for a decade in the Senate. He became Polk's Secretary of State and Pierce's Minister to Great Britain. Service abroad helped to bring him the Democratic nomination in 1856 because it had exempted him from involvement in bitter domestic controversies." From WhiteHouse.gov: "He was elected five times to the House of Representatives; then, after an interlude as Minister to Russia, served for a decade in the Senate. He became Polk's Secretary of State and Pierce's Minister to Great Britain. Service abroad helped to bring him the Democratic nomination in 1856 because it had exempted him from involvement in bitter domestic controversies."

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Franklin Pierce

Whig

Democrat

ANSWER: From the archives: "Getting to Know Franklin Pierce." From the archives: "Getting to Know Franklin Pierce."

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William Henry Harrison

Democratic-Republican

Whig

ANSWER: The first president to die in office, Harrison defeated Democrat Martin Van Buren in the election of 1840. The first president to die in office, Harrison defeated Democrat Martin Van Buren in the election of 1840.

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Warren G. Harding

Republican

Democrat

ANSWER: Along with running-mate Calvin Coolidge, Harding defeated the Democratic ticket of James Cox and Franklin Roosevelt in 1920. Along with running-mate Calvin Coolidge, Harding defeated the Democratic ticket of James Cox and Franklin Roosevelt in 1920.

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James Madison

Democratic-Republican

Federalist

ANSWER: Our smallest president, Madison served as Jefferson's Secretary of State before being elected in 1808. Our smallest president, Madison served as Jefferson's Secretary of State before being elected in 1808.

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