the 1860 presidential election Flashcards
(15 cards)
background prior to the 1860 preseidential election
In 1860 few Southerners were committed to the secessionist ideas of the fire eaters as most still wanted to remain in the Union despite still supporting the expansion of slavery. Fire-eaters wanted to secede from the North.
Southerners resented the idea of a Republican victory in the 1860 elections because it would threaten slavery and cause a slave uprising.
how did douglas alienate southerners before the 1860 presidential election
Stephen A Douglas alienated many Southerners by 1860 because he wa against the Lecompton Constitution, a pro-slavery territorial Government. He also supported the “Freeport Doctrine” which allowed a territory to prevent slavery by failing to pass favorable legislation. Southerners therefore saw him as a threat and were unlikely to support his presidential ambitions.
april 1860 democrat convention in charleston
April 1860 Democrat Convention in Charleston (deep south) highlighted the sectional divide between the Democrats. Douglas wanted to achieve the Democratic nomination which was possible as Northern Democrats outnumbered Southern Democrats in the Convention and wanted him to win. However, the Convention did not result in the nomination of a Presidential candidate because when Northern Democrats managed to block a proposal which protected slaveholders rights in territories, around 50 Southern delegates walked out.
june 1860 presidential election in baltimore
June 1860 Democrat Convention in Baltimore. Dougals easily won the nomination of the “official” Convention because majority of the Southern delegate walked out due to the convention preferring to take pro-Douglas people in. Southern delegates therefore held their own Convention in another hall where they decided to nominate Vice President John Breckinridge of Kentucky on the grounds that he would protect their rights and property.
split between democrats
The Democrats had completely spilt along sectional lines because Northerners supported Douglas and Southerners supported Breckinridge.
how split between democrats did not actually lead to growth of republicans
Argument that the Democratic split resulted in a Republican victory bears scrutiny because the Republicans were already the favorite to win. If anything, the split could weaken their campaign because Douglas could campaign in the North without trying to maintain a unified Democrat party. Counter analysis
republicans platform of 1860
Platform of 1860: called for higher protective tariffs (useful following the 1857 economic crisis), supported a Northern Pacific railway, against the expansion of slavery and the slave power conspiracy, saw popular sovereignty as fraud.
seward as a republican candidate
Seward
Initial Republican candidate. Had been Governer of New York for 4 years and a senator for 12 years, showing his prominence in the Republican party.
Was a weal candidate however because of his publicity in the party for years, he had attracted many enemies. He also held radical views about slavery and was against nativism (wouldn’t be attractive to ex Know-Nothing supporters).
lincoln as a republican candidate
Lincoln
Was a strong candidate because he came from a key state, Illinois and had gained a national platform from his debates with Douglass, for Senator of Illinois. He had made friends and gained support when he travelled throughout the North making speeches. Lincoln was also seen as moderate.
Illinois was a good location for the May 1860 Republican Convention because there was no presidential candidate in Illinois, so it was a good neutral support for him to gain support.
events of republican convention in chicago may 1860
Events of the Republican convention, May 1860, Chicago (Illinois): First ballot, Seward won with 173 ½ votes, while Lincoln had 102 votes. Seward didn’t win enough votes for an absolute majority however (he heeded 223 votes, which was half the 466 delegates). Lincoln also significantly won more votes than any other candidate, so it was clear who the race was between.
Most of the other candidates votes drifted towards Lincon. The second ballot was close, but the third ballot was hugely in favour of Lincoln.
constitutional union party
Challenged for Presidency in 1860.
Was composed of mainly ex- southern whigs and American party supporters. Gained most of its support from the upper South.
Nominated John Bell of Tenessee as their candidate in Baltimore in May 1860 who was a large slaveholder as presidential candidate.
The party wanted to remove Slavery from the political agenda
why was lincolns campaign unusual
Lincolns campaign was unusual because he adopted the traditional ‘mute tribune’ role. Although he received visitors, answered correspondence and conferred with Republican party chiefs, he otherwise said nothing. Historians criticize him because they claim he might have made some efforts to reassure Southerners that he was not a ‘Black Republican’ or threat to their section.
douglas’ view on the republican election
Dougals said ‘I will go South’ because he believed that a Republican victory would end the Union as they were against the expansion of slavery. He said that if Lincoln was elected that he must be elected in the South and wanted to warn them of the damages of secession.
results of 1860 presidential election
Abraham Lincoln
Republicans
40% of total
1!
John Bell
Constitutional Union Party
4!
Stepehn A Douglas
Democrats North
2!
John Breckinridge
Democrat South
3!
northern support for republicans
North voted solidly for Republicans because they felt as though Lincoln seemed to represent their section due to his resentment for the expansion of slavery and has a moderate Republican which was more attractive than Radicalism.
