Abolitionists: Those who wanted to abolish slavery.

Delegate in Congress: A person who attends Congressional sessions as a representative of an American territory but who has no voting rights. Only representatives from states that have been admitted into the Union can participate in enacting federal legislation.

Electoral College: A body officially responsible for electing the president of the United States. In presidential elections, the candidate who receives the most popular votes in a particular state wins all of that state's electoral votes. Votes are distributed among states in ratios based on population. A candidate must win a majority of electoral votes (over fifty percent) in order to win the presidency.

Grass roots: A term that describes political activity that begins with small groups of people acting without the influence of large and powerful groups.

Incumbent: The person currently holding an elected office during an...