The Election of 1860 and Its Aftermath

The Tune of "John Brown's Body"

• Became very popular during this time
• Known today as "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
• Lyrics have been changed over the years

Key Figures and Political Parties in the 1860 Election

Abraham Lincoln (Republican)

• Supported free soil ideology: Prevent expansion of slavery into new territories.
• 1860 Cooper Union Address: Argued that founders supported congressional power to limit the spread of slavery.
• Discredited Taney's pro-slavery original intent argument.
• Stance: Keep slavery from spreading, but constitutionally protected where it already exists.

Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat)

• Argued federal government couldn't regulate or ban slavery in the territories.
• Supported popular sovereignty: Territories could not pass laws to protect slavery.

John C. Breckenridge (Southern Democrat)

• Current Vice President of the U.S.
• Promised to fight for slavery and introduce a federal slave code.

John Bell (Constitutional Union Party)

• Platform: No position on slavery.
• Focus: Constitution and the Union.

Two Presidential Contests

• North: Douglas (Green) vs. **Lincoln (Blue) **
• South: Breckenridge (Red) vs. Bell (Yellow)

Election Results

• Breckenridge: Swept the South.
• Bell: Won border states.
• Lincoln: Won the North and the West.
• Douglas: Only won Missouri.

Popular Vote and Electoral College

• Lincoln: 40% of popular vote, majority of the electoral votes (59%).
• Lincoln's victory still assured even against a single opponent.
• Second in the popular vote: Douglas (29.5%).
• Bell: 12.6% of the popular vote.
• Breckenridge: 18% of the popular vote but 24% of the electoral vote due to the Three-Fifths Compromise.

Secession and Aftermath

• Lincoln's election on November 6, 1860, led to secession of southern states.
• South Carolina led secession, followed by six other southern states.
• States that seceded first: South Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida.
• Sitting president (lame duck) took no action to stop secession.
• States justified secession by citing slavery and fear of future racial equality.
• Next lecture: Seven original declarations of causes regarding secession.

Review Questions:

• How did events and cultural institutions show the nation's division in the 1850s?
• What platforms did each party stand for in the 1856 election?
• What were the platforms of the 1860 election candidates?