The Election of 1860
USHistory.org
The Presidential Election of 1860 was a watershed moment in American history. In the decade leading up to the election, Americans witnessed rising tensions between northern and southern states, largely over states' rights and the future of slavery in America.
As territories tried to join the Union as new states, the question of slavery repeatedly arose. Was it up to the states to decide whether or not to continue the unfair institution of slavery? Or should the federal government intervene to keep slave states and free states equal in Congress or promote the decline of slavery?
This led to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which prohibited slavery in new states north of the southern border of Missouri. In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, with Congress allowing states to decide for themselves on whether to allow slavery.
The controversy continued to build in 1858 when two men running for senator of Illinois held a series of 7 public debates on the issue. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas argued throughout the state for two months, drawing huge crowds. Douglas, who had supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, argued that citizens of a territory had the right to decide whether to permit or prohibit slavery. This idea was called "popular sovereignty."
When Lincoln countered that this violated Supreme Court rulings, Douglas famously replied that whatever the Supreme Court decided was not as important as the actions of the citizens. In the debates, Lincoln argued that Douglas' position of "popular sovereignty" would perpetuate slavery in the U.S. when national policy was to limit it. To support his point, Lincoln repeated again and again the idea that, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." While Douglas was elected senator of Illinois, many kept their eyes on Lincoln.
Lincoln and Douglas met to oppose each other once again in the Presidential Election of 1860. But they were not the only two candidates in the running.
The Democratic Party was divided on whom they would nominate for president. Northern Democrats wanted to support Douglas, as they were in favor of his popular sovereignty argument that states should decide on slavery for themselves. While Douglas supported slavery, southern Democrats did not think he went far enough - they were angry with him for supporting states that chose not to permit slavery.
When all of the Democrats met in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 1860 to select their presidential candidate, it was turmoil. Southern Democrats stormed out of the convention without choosing a candidate. Six weeks later, the northern Democrats chose Douglas. At a separate convention, the southern Democrats nominated then Vice President John C. Breckenridge. Breckenridge, who was pro-slavery and had also supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, was extremely popular in the South.
Meanwhile, the Republicans met in Chicago that May to select a nominee. The fairly new party recognized that the Democrat's turmoil actually gave them a chance to take the election. They needed to select a candidate who could carry the North. To do that, the Republicans needed someone who could win New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania - four important states that remained uncertain.
There were plenty of potential candidates, but in the end Abraham Lincoln emerged as the best choice. Lincoln had become the symbol of the frontier and hard work. He was a self-made man who represented the American Dream. And of course, his debates with Douglas had made him a national figure and brought the anti-slavery Republican movement into the limelight. Lincoln became the Republican's nominee for president.
Still more citizens felt the need for a moderate candidate. A number of aging politicians and distinguished citizens, calling themselves the Constitutional Union Party, nominated John Bell of Tennessee for President. Bell was a wealthy slave owner who would take no stand on the issues that divided the North and the South.
With four candidates in the field, Lincoln received only 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes - enough to narrowly win the crowded election. This meant that 60% of the voters selected someone other than Lincoln. With the results tallied, the question was, would the South accept the outcome? The answer was no. A few weeks after the election, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Many more would follow, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.
As territories tried to join the Union as new states, the question of slavery repeatedly arose. Was it up to the states to decide whether or not to continue the unfair institution of slavery? Or should the federal government intervene to keep slave states and free states equal in Congress or promote the decline of slavery?
This led to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which prohibited slavery in new states north of the southern border of Missouri. In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, with Congress allowing states to decide for themselves on whether to allow slavery.
The controversy continued to build in 1858 when two men running for senator of Illinois held a series of 7 public debates on the issue. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas argued throughout the state for two months, drawing huge crowds. Douglas, who had supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, argued that citizens of a territory had the right to decide whether to permit or prohibit slavery. This idea was called "popular sovereignty."
When Lincoln countered that this violated Supreme Court rulings, Douglas famously replied that whatever the Supreme Court decided was not as important as the actions of the citizens. In the debates, Lincoln argued that Douglas' position of "popular sovereignty" would perpetuate slavery in the U.S. when national policy was to limit it. To support his point, Lincoln repeated again and again the idea that, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." While Douglas was elected senator of Illinois, many kept their eyes on Lincoln.
Lincoln and Douglas met to oppose each other once again in the Presidential Election of 1860. But they were not the only two candidates in the running.
The Democratic Party was divided on whom they would nominate for president. Northern Democrats wanted to support Douglas, as they were in favor of his popular sovereignty argument that states should decide on slavery for themselves. While Douglas supported slavery, southern Democrats did not think he went far enough - they were angry with him for supporting states that chose not to permit slavery.
When all of the Democrats met in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 1860 to select their presidential candidate, it was turmoil. Southern Democrats stormed out of the convention without choosing a candidate. Six weeks later, the northern Democrats chose Douglas. At a separate convention, the southern Democrats nominated then Vice President John C. Breckenridge. Breckenridge, who was pro-slavery and had also supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, was extremely popular in the South.
Meanwhile, the Republicans met in Chicago that May to select a nominee. The fairly new party recognized that the Democrat's turmoil actually gave them a chance to take the election. They needed to select a candidate who could carry the North. To do that, the Republicans needed someone who could win New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania - four important states that remained uncertain.
There were plenty of potential candidates, but in the end Abraham Lincoln emerged as the best choice. Lincoln had become the symbol of the frontier and hard work. He was a self-made man who represented the American Dream. And of course, his debates with Douglas had made him a national figure and brought the anti-slavery Republican movement into the limelight. Lincoln became the Republican's nominee for president.
Still more citizens felt the need for a moderate candidate. A number of aging politicians and distinguished citizens, calling themselves the Constitutional Union Party, nominated John Bell of Tennessee for President. Bell was a wealthy slave owner who would take no stand on the issues that divided the North and the South.
With four candidates in the field, Lincoln received only 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes - enough to narrowly win the crowded election. This meant that 60% of the voters selected someone other than Lincoln. With the results tallied, the question was, would the South accept the outcome? The answer was no. A few weeks after the election, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Many more would follow, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.