Election of 1860The Election That Changed It

All

Sectionalism The differences between the North and the South lead to sectionalism

Loyalty to one’s own region without regards to others needs

Election Year 4 candidates ran for office of

president Democrats – 2

• Stephen Douglas – Northern• John Breckinridge – Southern

Republicans• Abraham Lincoln

Constitutional Unionist • John Bell

Now What? What problem could happen if the Democratic Party has 2 candidates running at the same time?

What impact does multiple candidates have on elections?

Electoral College Electoral College casts votes for the

president based on how their state votes

Each state gets votes based on the number of representatives in Congress

Majority of votes becomes winner and President

Election Time Abraham Lincoln wins the election Sectionalism caused the

Democratic Party votes to be split amongst 3 candidates

What does this mean for South? If Lincoln was elected just by Northern votes, the North clearly has a majority in government

What might the Northern representatives try to get rid of?

December 20, 1861 South Carolina secedes from the United States of America to create a new country

Other states soon follow and they create the Confederate States of America

Why Secede? State’s Rights!

• South argues that it is the right of a state to make laws regarding property not the national government

• The national government is becoming too powerful and will take away rights of individual states

North Carolina Will be the last state to secede from the Union during May of 1861