November 6th Marks Presidential Election History and Tragic Dam Collapse Anniversary

Today, November 6th, is a date steeped in U.S. political history, witnessing pivotal presidential elections and, tragically, a devastating dam collapse that claimed dozens of lives.

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln, representing the Republican Party, was elected as the 16th President of the United States, defeating John Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen Douglas. This election preceded the outbreak of the Civil War and ultimately reshaped the nation. Later, in 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected to a six-year term as president of the Confederate States of America. In a notable electoral anomaly, 1888 saw Benjamin Harrison win the presidency despite losing the popular vote to Grover Cleveland – a scenario that wouldn’t repeat until the 2000 election.

More recently, November 6th has seen victories for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Ronald Reagan in 1984, and Barack Obama in 2012. However, the date also carries a somber weight: in 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam in Georgia burst, resulting in the deaths of 39 people, many of whom were students at Toccoa Falls College. For more information on dam safety and infrastructure, visit the Bureau of Reclamation.

Tragedy also struck internationally on this date in 2022, when a passenger plane crashed into Lake Victoria while approaching an airport in Tanzania, killing all 19 people on board. Today also marks the birthdays of several notable figures, including actors Sally Field and Ethan Hawke, and author Michael Cunningham. You can find more historical events for November 6th on History.com.

Officials continue to monitor infrastructure safety following the anniversary of the dam collapse, and investigations into the 2022 plane crash remain ongoing.