# 1846 Midterm Elections [[James K. Polk]] administration midterm, held during the **[[Mexican-American War]]** (began May 1846). The wartime election produced unusual Whig gains in the House — anti-war Whigs (the "**Conscience Whigs**") capitalized on opposition to what they framed as Polk's slave-power-driven war of aggression. ## Result - **House:** Whigs gained substantial seats; took House majority (~115 of 230 Whigs vs. ~108 Democrats in the 30th Congress) - **Senate:** Democrats held majority - **Chambers flipped:** House flipped to Whig control - **Net change:** Major Whig gains driven by war opposition ## Notable - A young Illinois Whig **Abraham Lincoln** was elected to his only House term in 1846; he served 1847-1849 and authored the "Spot Resolutions" demanding [[James K. Polk]] identify the specific spot on American soil where American blood had been shed by Mexican forces - The **Wilmot Proviso** (August 1846 House amendment to a war-appropriations bill, proposed by Democrat David Wilmot of Pennsylvania) sought to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico — the slavery-extension question that would dominate American politics for the next 15 years - The Whig House majority that this election produced impeded but did not prevent the war's prosecution ## Connections - [[James K. Polk]] — Sitting president; the Mexican-American War. - [[Abraham Lincoln]] — Illinois Whig elected to the House.