The Importance of The Importance of the Election of 1860the Election of 1860

Could the Civil War Have Could the Civil War Have Been Prevented?Been Prevented?

By: Carol Fahringer

HIST 510.54 – Dr. Downey

Missouri Compromise of Missouri Compromise of 18201820

► Henry ClayKnown as the “Great Compromiser”

in Congress, Clay called slavery the “great evil.”

•Purpose: Keep the balance of power in Congress equal as the nation grows.

•Missouri could enter the Union as a slave state,

•Maine could enter the Union as a free state.

•New states would be admitted as free or slave based on their location.

•North of 36 deg., 30 min. North lat. – free and South of that line – slave.

Challenge to the Challenge to the ConstitutionConstitution

- Sectional Division- Sectional Division

“Our Federal Union – next to our liberties the most dear!...” ~John C. Calhoun (April 13, 1830)

Congressman Stephen Douglas’s (D-IL) idea of popular sovereignty was based on Tenth Amendment rights to citizens. He also proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

►John C. Calhoun (D-SC) challenged the John C. Calhoun (D-SC) challenged the issue of the Constitution’s Tenth issue of the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment by supporting the “South Amendment by supporting the “South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification.” Carolina Ordinance of Nullification.” (November 24, 1832) He resigned as (November 24, 1832) He resigned as Vice President to Andrew Jackson later Vice President to Andrew Jackson later that year.that year.

Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

.

Map depicting the areas impacted by the Compromise.

The Compromise of 1850~ National Archives

Breakdown of the Breakdown of the Compromise:Compromise: ► From Clay’s Resolutions - Jan. 29, From Clay’s Resolutions - Jan. 29,

18501850

That California ought to be That California ought to be admitted to the Union and allowed admitted to the Union and allowed by Congress to exclude slavery.by Congress to exclude slavery.

That areas acquired from the That areas acquired from the republic of Mexico have no republic of Mexico have no restriction or condition on the restriction or condition on the subject of slavery.subject of slavery.

That the boundaries of Texas be That the boundaries of Texas be fixed along the Rio del Norte.fixed along the Rio del Norte.

That slaves will no longer be That slaves will no longer be allowed to be brought into the allowed to be brought into the District of Columbia for trade District of Columbia for trade elsewhere.elsewhere.

That citizens have an obligation to That citizens have an obligation to return any escaped slaves to their return any escaped slaves to their rightful owners.rightful owners.

That Congress has no power to That Congress has no power to promote or obstruct the slave promote or obstruct the slave trade between states and that the trade between states and that the admission or exclusion of slaves admission or exclusion of slaves transported between states will transported between states will depend upon the individual laws of depend upon the individual laws of those states.those states.

► Issues: Issues: Territorial expansion Territorial expansion

and decisions using and decisions using popularity popularity sovereignty will sovereignty will throw off the balance throw off the balance of power (slave vs. of power (slave vs. free states) in free states) in Congress, violating Congress, violating the earlier Missouri the earlier Missouri Compromise.Compromise.

Wilmot Proviso could Wilmot Proviso could impact areas.impact areas.

Strengthened Strengthened Fugitive Slave Act is Fugitive Slave Act is difficult for northern difficult for northern Abolitionists to Abolitionists to accept.accept.

“I owe a paramount allegiance to the whole Union – a subordinate one to my own state.”

~ Henry Clay, July 22, 1850

1854 - Kansas-Nebraska 1854 - Kansas-Nebraska ActAct

► 1856 map of territories affected by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1856 map of territories affected by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, this law applied the principle of popular sovereignty which also this law applied the principle of popular sovereignty which also

violated the earlier Missouri Compromise.violated the earlier Missouri Compromise.

Congressional Debate Leads to AssaultCongressional Debate Leads to Assault

Congressman Charles Sumner (R-MA) is severely beaten by congressman Preston Brooks, from South Carolina, following his anti-slavery speech “The Crime Against Kansas.” In it he

called the Kansas-Nebraska Act a “swindle.” (1856)

The Election of 1856:The Election of 1856:►Whig Party split over slavery issueWhig Party split over slavery issue►New Republican Party - New Republican Party - (composed of antislavery (composed of antislavery

Democrats, Free Soilers, and northern Whigs.)Democrats, Free Soilers, and northern Whigs.)

► 1856 Presidential Election1856 Presidential Election James Buchanan (D-PA) wins but ultimately James Buchanan (D-PA) wins but ultimately

alienates his own political party. alienates his own political party. ► V.P. John C. BreckinridgeV.P. John C. Breckinridge

John C. Freemont (R-CA)John C. Freemont (R-CA)► V.P. William DaytonV.P. William Dayton

** ** Milliard Fillmore – American Party (NY)Milliard Fillmore – American Party (NY)* V.P. Andrew Donelson, TN* V.P. Andrew Donelson, TN

** Slavery was the ONLY campaign issue.** Slavery was the ONLY campaign issue.Some Southern states threatened to secede Some Southern states threatened to secede

if Freemont won…if Freemont won…

October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown led

21 men on a raid of the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. John Brown

was hanged on December 2, 1859.

~Mural depicting John Brown’s raid

Dred Scott v. Sandford

(March 6, 1857) Supreme Court decision based on Fifth Amendment right “that no

person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.”

~Lincoln’s Cooper Union Speech

This violated the earlier Missouri Compromise.

Challenges to slavery:Challenges to slavery:

Issues of this Era:Issues of this Era:

►Territorial Expansion (Manifest Territorial Expansion (Manifest Destiny)Destiny)

►Slavery (U.S. Constitution)Slavery (U.S. Constitution)►Protective Tariffs (Economy)Protective Tariffs (Economy)►State’s Rights (U.S. Constitution)State’s Rights (U.S. Constitution)►NullificationNullification

SecessionSecession

THE COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND

ART ~Newsletter

Locations in New England where presidential candidate

Abraham Lincoln gave speeches in 1860, following

Cooper Union.

“one of the happiest and most convincing political arguments ever made in this city.”~New York Tribune

Lincoln’s Cooper Union SpeechLincoln’s Cooper Union Speech

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln CampaignsCampaigns

Campaign poster for President Abraham Lincoln (1864).

Republican Candidate for President, Abraham Lincoln

~Harper’s Weekly, May 26, 1860.

Sectional Division: Four Sectional Division: Four Strong Presidential Strong Presidential Candidates in 1860Candidates in 1860

John C. Breckinridge, KY

Southern Democratic Candidate

V.P. Joseph Lane, OR

Stephen A. Douglas, IL Democratic Candidate

V. P. Herschel Johnson, GA

John Bell, TN ConstitutionalCandidate

V.P. Edward Everett, MA

Abraham Lincoln, IL Republican Candidate

V.P. Hannibal Hamlin, ME

The Election of 1860The Election of 1860

Issues were:

• Popular Sovereignty

• High Tariffs

• Secession

Outcome:

•Lincoln won (<40%) popular vote and electoral majority

•Douglas finished 2nd in popular vote; carried only Missouri

•Breckinridge finished 3rd in popular vote, but 2nd with the electoral vote and carried every slave state.

The Election in York County, The Election in York County, PAPA

► Factors:Factors: The tariff issue was the The tariff issue was the

greatest single influence,greatest single influence,► PA in 1860 – was the PA in 1860 – was the

leading industrial state,leading industrial state,► 1850s period of growth, 1850s period of growth,

followed by economic ills followed by economic ills blamed on foreign blamed on foreign competition.competition.

► (Governor) Col. Andrew (Governor) Col. Andrew Curtain supported tariffs.Curtain supported tariffs.

► Disgust with President Disgust with President Buchanan (D-PA) pushed Buchanan (D-PA) pushed voters to Republican voters to Republican party.party.

Pennsylvania was a key state Pennsylvania was a key state for Abraham Lincoln.for Abraham Lincoln.

•Reason with all your voters on the importance of carrying York county at this election,

•Go house to house – miss no voter…Get out our full vote… (we) believe we can defeat the entire Democratic Breckenridge ticket…… do your best…

•~From the Republican Party’s County Committee circular (Sept. 1860)

Official Vote of York County Official Vote of York County (Nov.13,1860)(Nov.13,1860)

HopeweHopewellll

Lincoln Lincoln 282282

Bell Bell 4747

Douglas Douglas 88

Stewarts-Stewarts-towntown

Lincoln Lincoln 3838

Bell Bell 11

Douglas Douglas 1414

YorkYork Lincoln Lincoln 108108

Bell Bell 1010

Douglas Douglas 4545

Southern Secession:Southern Secession:

Former Mississippi Congressman Jefferson Davis resigns to accept the

presidency of the newly formed Confederate States of America.

January 1861.

Reuben Davis, Lucius Lamar, Jefferson Davis, Albert Brown, William Barksdale,

Otho Singleton, John McRae.

~ Based on photos by Matthew Brady. “Seceding Mississippi Congressional Delegation.” ~Harper's

Weekly, February 2, 1861.

~~Harper’s Weekly. 1861.Harper’s Weekly. 1861.

Lincoln is InauguratedLincoln is InauguratedMarch 4, 1861March 4, 1861

► Seven southern states Seven southern states had already seceded.had already seceded.

► The issue of Fort Sumter The issue of Fort Sumter was waiting on his desk.was waiting on his desk.

► Could the republic “long Could the republic “long endure” or would it endure” or would it “perish from the earth?”“perish from the earth?”

“… You think slavery is right and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub.”

~Lincoln’s letter to Alexander H. Stephens (D-GA) December 1860