Lincoln’s Election and Southern Secession

 Platform – a statement of beliefs  Secede – to withdraw  Confederate States of America – the confederation formed in 1861 by the Southern states after their secession from the Union  Jefferson Davis – named president of the Confederacy  Crittenden Plan – a compromise introduced in 1861 that might have prevented secession; sponsored by Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky  Civil war - a war between opposing groups of the same country

 Look at the map on page 473. How many states voted for Lincoln? How many voted for Douglas? For Breckinridge? For Bell? Where did Lincoln have strong support? Where did he have no support?

Describe the results of the election of Explain why southern states seceded from the Union. Summarize the events that led to the outbreak of the Civil War. Objectives:

Democrats became divided over whether to support slavery in the territories. Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas. Stephen Douglas desperately sought to appease southern voters. However, southerners often jeered at him during his campaign speeches. Southern Democrats chose Vice President John Breckinridge.

In total, four candidates ran for president in RepublicansAbraham Lincolncriticized slavery Northern Democrats Stephen Douglasfavored individual states deciding on slavery Southern Democrats John Breckinridgesupported slavery in the territories Constitutional Union Party John Bellpromised to protect slavery and keep nation together

The outcome of the election showed just how fragmented the nation had become: Lincoln won in every free state. Breckinridge won most of the slave states. Bell won three states in the upper South. Douglas won Missouri.

Abraham Lincoln received enough electoral votes to win the election.

Southerners felt that the President and Congress were now set against their interests—especially slavery.

 1. What issue split the Democratic Party? Disagreed over what to say about slavery in the party’s platform.  2. What was unusual about the number of candidates for president in 1860? There were 4, from 4 different parties  3. What was the aim of the Constitutional Union Party? To preserve the Union

 Two different races One in the North (Lincoln vs. Douglas) One in the South (Breckinridge and Bell)  Lincoln and Breckinridge – “extreme” views on slavery Lincoln  Douglas and Bell – more moderate view  Who won the election?

 4. How did Breckinridge’s stance on the expansion of slavery in the territories differ from Lincoln’s? Breckinridge said that the federal government should be required to protect slavery in any territory. (Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery in the territories)  5. Why were Douglas and Bell thought to be moderates? Neither wanted the federal government to pass new laws on slavery.  6. What did Southerners fear Lincoln would do after the election? Ban slavery

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. Many southerners had said they would secede if Lincoln won. Frustrated southern states formed the Confederate States of America. Six other southern states followed.

Some moderate southerners did not want to secede, but their voices were overwhelmed. By March, the Confederacy had adopted a constitution. Former Senator Jefferson Davis was named president.

 7. What argument did some Southerners use to justify secession? States’ rights  8. What were the results of the convention held by the seven seceded states? Formed the Confederate States of America Named Jefferson Davis president of Confederacy Drafted a constitution Prepared for war/defense  9. How was the Confederate Constitution different from the U.S. Constitution? Supported states’ rights and protected slavery

When President Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861, the nation faced the greatest crisis in its history. Lincoln told the seceded states he would not “interfere… with slavery where it exists.” The Confederate states responded by taking over federal property within their borders. Lincoln encouraged the Confederacy to return to the union.

 10. How did President Buchanan and other Northerners respond to secession? Buchanan argued against secession  Said the federal government, not states, was sovereign Northerners thought it was unconstitutional

 11. What was the purpose of the Crittenden Plan? Was it successful? To compromise with the southern states who seceded No, it did not pass  12. How did Lincoln try to reassure the South in his First Inaugural Address on March 4, 1861? He assured them he had no intention of abolishing slavery in the South Ended his speech with an appeal for friendship

Already, an urgent struggle had begun. The commander at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, had refused to surrender to the Confederates. The Confederates tried to starve the troops into surrendering. Lincoln did not send troops because he did not want other states to secede. He planned to send food on ships without guns.

On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter. The U.S. troops surrendered. The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter marked the beginning of a long civil war.

By 1861, many people in the North and South believed that war was unavoidable. However, Americans were unprepared for the terrible war that would last for the next four years.