1860 election overview

7/31/2019 1860 Election Overview

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1860 Election HighlightsAICE US History


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Voter Turnout

The voter turnout rate in 1860 was the second-

highest on record (81.2%, second only to 1876,

with 81.8%).


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Presidential/Vice

CandidatesRepublicanAbraham Lincoln, Hannibal Hamlin

Southern Democrat

John Breckenridge, Joseph Lane

Constitutional Union

John Bell, Edward Everett

Democrat

Stephen A. Douglas, Herschel Johnson


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Democratic Party Platform

Slavery wouldnt be allowed to spread any further

Abide by the Supreme Courts decision on the

Congress and authority over expansion of

slavery

Promised that tariffs protecting industry would be

imposed

Homestead Act granting free farmland in theWest to settlers

Funding of a transcontinental railroad


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Campaign Slogans

No Rail Splitter Can Split this Union

Popular Sovereignty/Non Intervention by the

General Government in Any of the States or

Territories of the Union/Let the People of EachRule.


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Southern Democratic

PlatformSupported the expansion of slavery in theterritories


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Campaign Slogan

Our Rights, The Constitution and the Union.


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Campaign Slogans

The Union as it is, and the Constitution as it is

Liberty and Union/Now and Forever One and

Inseparable/No North, No South, No East, No

West, Nothing but Union.


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Republican Campaign

SlogansVote Yourself a FarmThe Republican ball is in motion

Honest Old Abe the Peoples Choice The Rail-Splitter of 1830/The President of U.S.1861

The Rail Splitter of the West

Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Home

Protection to American Industry


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Turning Points

President Buchanan and former President

Franklin Pierce decided to support Southern

Democratic Party nominee John Breckinridge

rather than Stephen DouglasThe 1860 campaign featured two main contests,

in the North and South.

In the North, the campaign was between Lincolnand Douglas, in the South it was between John

C. Breckinridge and John Bell.


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Turning Points

Douglas however had a presence in Southern

cities, while Breckinridge made some headway in

the North, particularly Pennsylvania.

Fusion tickets of non-Republicans in the Northnearly cost Lincoln New Yorks electoral votes

and the election


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Secession Looming

In October, after state elections indicated a

Republican victory, Douglas decided to tour the

Southern states and convince them not to

secede should and when Lincoln would beelected President.


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Was Secession

Constitutional?YesConstitution was a contract between sovereign

states

Each reserved the right to withdraw from theagreement

No

Constitution was neither a contract nor an

agreement between sovereign states.It was an agreement with the people, and once a

state entered the Union, it could not leave the

Union.


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1860 election overview

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