40 iconic photos reflect the roller coaster of emotions the country experienced in the final month of the election

The last month of the election was marked by scandal after scandal.

A lewd 2005 tape surfaced of Republican president-elect Donald Trump bragging about groping women and kissing them without permission.

Finding the courage to come forward after the video leaked, over a dozen women accused Trump of sexually assaulting them. He denied every allegation.

After appearing to finally be past the email investigation that embroiled her early campaign, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was broadsided again when FBI Director James Comey announced he was examining new emails from when Clinton used a private server while secretary of state. A week later – and only three days before the election – Comey told Congress there was no need to investigate her further.

And the widely watched, brutal debates between the two candidates only increased the divisiveness across the country. While Clinton appeared to be the overwhelming favorite in nearly all the polls, her ascension was never really certain.

It has been an emotional month. After waking up to the shock of President-elect Trump, Americans are likely still feeling raw emotions - whether they were the half who voted for him or not.

Here are 40 iconic photos from the election's bitter final month:

Nine-year-old Belle Shefrin holds a Clinton doll while listening to the first female presidential candidate for a major political party speak at a campaign rally in Akron, Ohio on October 3.

Trump waves to supporters outside the front door of the infamous Trump Tower where he lives in Manhattan on October 8.

Trump listens as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton answers a question from the audience during their second debate on October 9. He was later criticized for "lurking" behind her.

Summer Zervos, a former contestant on the TV show The Apprentice, is embraced by lawyer Gloria Allred while speaking about allegations of sexual misconduct against Donald Trump during a news conference in Los Angeles on October 14.

Eve Rydberg Megan Lee protest against the Republican candidate outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, Illinois on October 18. In the lewd 2005 tape, Trump said he could "grab women by the pussy" because he's a star.

Trump's campaign plane passes Clinton's campaign plane on October 18 as the two meet to face off for the final debate in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ivanka Trump awaits the the start of the third and final debate between her father and Clinton at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 19.

After not getting anywhere near each other the entire third and final debate on October 19, Clinton crosses the stage smiling as Trump remains at his lectern until she exits.

Clinton and Trump trade barbs at the annual Al Smith Catholic charities dinner October 20, the night after the heated final debate.

A man wears a mask depicting Clinton while holding a doll depicting Trump in Phoenix, Arizona on October 20, 2016.

Storm clouds gather behind Clinton as she arrives for campaign events in Cleveland, Ohio on October 21.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani says a few words of support at a campaign rally in Naples, Florida October 23 before the candidate takes the stage.

Trump hugs a US flag as he comes onstage to another rally with supporters in Tampa, Florida on October 24.

A man wears a t-shirt of Hillary Clinton behind bars as he eats a sandwich at a Trump rally in St. Augustine, Florida on October 24. "Lock her up!" was one of the most popular rally chants.

Clinton waves as she arrives to a campaign event accompanied by popular progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in Manchester, New Hampshire on October 24.

Trump meets with law enforcement and first responders at the St. Johns County Sheriff's Department in St. Augustine, Florida on October 24. Restoring "law and order" became a rallying cry at his stump speeches.

With the polls showing her with a sizable lead, Clinton attends a campaign rally at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on October 24.

Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was destroyed by vandals protesting the candidate on October 26.

Clinton celebrates her 69th birthday as she boards her campaign plane in Miami, Florida on October 26.

First lady Michelle Obama proved to be one of Clinton's most inspiring surrogates, particularly after Trump's 2005 tape surfaced of him making lewd comments about women. The two first ladies are seen here hugging on October 27.

On October 28, FBI Director James Comey announced he was looking into Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state. It seemed her email scandal wasn't over after all.

The FBI discovered the new emails on the computer of former congressman Anthony Weiner, estranged husband to close Clinton aide Huma Abadin, shown on the candidate's campaign plane here.

Appearing unperturbed about her renewed email issue, Clinton holds a Halloween mask while joking with her staff on her campaign plane in Erlanger, Kentucky on October 31.

Clinton acknowledges the crowd at a campaign rally in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on November 2. The battleground state proved to be a Trump supporting stronghold, though the race was too close to call for hours.

Children watch their mother vote in Greenville, North Carolina — a swing state that Trump won handily.

Hundreds of women lined up for hours on Election Day to pay their respects at Susan B. Anthony's grave, the legendary suffragist who helped women finally get the right to vote in 1920.

Grace Bell Hardison, a 100 year old woman recently mentioned by President Barack Obama after attempts were made to purge her from the voter registration list and hence deny her right to vote, receives an "I Voted Today" sticker on Election Day.

Trump appears to peek at his wife Melania's ballot as they vote on Election day in Manhattan.

A supporter celebrates as returns come in for during Trump's election night rally in Manhattan.

Clinton supporters watch and wait at her election night rally in New York.

Lyn Thrasher and her daughter Marley Thrasher react to a stream of news showing a surge by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the national contest at Republican Governor Pat McCrory's election night party in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Clinton supporters at her election night rally look as shocked as the country was that the Democratic nominee didn't hold onto the lead she appeared to have in the polls.

Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta tells supporters to go home and wait for the results on Wednesday at her election night rally in Manhattan.

Supporters settle in for increasingly bad news at Clinton's election night rally in Manhattan.

On the Trump side, the results look better and better as the night goes on.

Trump supporters embrace as they watch election returns come in.

Trump supporters kiss at an election night rally in Manhattan.

Trump supporters rally in front of the White House on November 9, 2016 after he is pronounced the winner.

Trump's family accompanies him as he arrives at his election night rally in Manhattan to give his victory speech.