The Election of 1860

Secessionitis

Focus Question

Explain whether you should support a candidate from your party whom you disagree with.

Objectives

After today’s lesson, you will:• Outline the stances of the four candidates in 1860• Describe the impact of the election of 1860

Election of 1860

• Events of the 1850s led the nation on the Road to Disunion– Compromise of 1850– Fugitive Slave Act/Personal Liberty Laws– Kansas-Nebraska Act– Dred Scott Decision– John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry

• What next?

Election of 1860

• Nation was at a tipping point– Democratic Party split• Stephen Douglas lost Southern support• Could not make a nomination at their convention

– Republicans nominate Lincoln in a compromise

Four Way Race

• Northern Democrats nominated Douglas (IL)• Southern Democrats nominated

John C. Breckinridge (KY), Vice President• Republicans nominated Lincoln (IL)• Border state Whigs formed a new party,

nominated John Bell of Tennessee

The Slavery Issue

• The Key Differences were about slavery:– Stephen Douglas – Popular Sovereignty– John C. Breckinridge – Protect Slavery– Abraham Lincoln – Prevent the spread of Slavery– John Bell – Preserve the Union

Results

• Electorate SplitPARTY CANDIDATE POPULAR

VOTEELECTORAL VOTE

REPUBLICAN ABRAHAM LINCOLN

1,876,000(39.8%)

180

NORTHERN DEMOCRAT

STEPHEN DOUGLAS

1,375,000(29.5%)

12

SOUTHERN DEMOCRAT

JOHN BRECKINRIDGE

848,000(18.1%)

72

CONSTITUTIONAL UNION

JOHN BELL 590,000(12.6%)

39

Summary

• In a short, 2-3 sentence response, describe the debate during the election of 1860.