The Presidential Election of 1860

Stephen Douglas“The Little Giant”

From Illinois

Stephen Douglas

Douglas believed that the issue

of slavery should be determined

through popular sovereignty in

territories as they become

states.

The Northern faction of the Democratic Party

Douglas deeply believed in

democracy arguing the will of the

people should always be decisive

John Breckinridge of KentuckyThe Southern Faction of the

Democratic Party

Southern Democrats

• In April 1860,delegates from

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,

Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas,

Arkansas, Delaware walked out of the

Democratic National convention.

Southern Democrats

Southerners left the Democratic party in

protest of the party’s platform

concerning slavery.

Southern Democrats met in Baltimore in

June 1860 to nominate

John Breckinridge.

Many Southerners believed that the

federal government did not have the

power to regulate the economies within

the states.

These people cited what they called

“states rights”.

John Breckinridge

Believed that the Federal government must protect the

institution of slavery.

John Bell of Tennessee

The Constitutional Union Party

The Constitutional Union Party

The Constitutional Union Party consisted

of former Southern (Cotton)Whigs and

Know-Nothings

John Bell

Believed the federal government

should support slavery and

work to preserve the Union.

The Constitutional Union PartySupported the upholding of the

Constitution and preserving the Union.

Bell and his supporters hoped to gain votes by making slavery a secondary

issue.

Bell had wide support in the counties which would become West Virginia.

16th President of the United StatesAbraham Lincoln

Abraham LincolnThe Republican Party

• Slavery must not be allowed to expand

into the territories as America

expanded West.

The Republican Party

The Republican party formed in 1856 in Ripon, Wisconsin as a response to the failure of the Kansas- Nebraska Act.

The Republican Party consisted of former Northern Whigs who joined

together in opposition to the expansion of slavery.

Lincoln was not even on the Ballot in

Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina,

South Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas,

Tennessee, Texas, Georgia ,Louisiana

or Florida.

Lincoln

Popular vote 1,865, 908

Percentage 39.8%

Electoral College 180

States carried 18

Stephen Douglas

Popular Vote 1,380,201

Percentage 29.5%

Electoral College 12

States carried Missouri

John C. Breckinridge

Popular Vote 848,019

Percentage 18.1%

Electoral College 72

States Carried 11

John Bell

Popular Vote 509,901

Percentage 12.6%

Electoral College 39

States Carried 3

Electoral Map