The Election That Changed It All

 The differences between the North and the South lead to sectionalism  Loyalty to one’s own region without regards to others needs

 4 candidates ran for office of president  Democrats – 2 Stephen Douglas – Northern John Breckinridge – Southern  Republicans Abraham Lincoln  Constitutional Unionist John Bell

 What problem could happen if the Democratic Party has 2 candidates running at the same time?  What impact does multiple candidates have on elections?

 Electoral College casts votes for the president based on how their state votes  Each state gets votes based on the number of representatives in Congress  Majority of votes becomes winner and President

 Abraham Lincoln wins the election  Sectionalism caused the Democratic Party votes to be split amongst 3 candidates

 If Lincoln was elected just by Northern votes, the North clearly has a majority in government  What might the Northern representatives try to get rid of?

 South Carolina secedes from the United States of America to create a new country  Other states soon follow and they create the Confederate States of America

 State’s Rights! South argues that it is the right of a state to make laws regarding property not the national government The national government is becoming too powerful and will take away rights of individual states

 Will be the last state to secede from the Union during May of 1861