Main Idea Why It Matters Now The election of Lincoln led the Southern states to secede from the Union. This was the only time in U.S. history that states seceded from the Union.
What important events occurred between April 1860 and March 1861? April 1860 Southern Democrats walk out of the convention. May 1860 Republicans nominate Lincoln. June 1860 Democrats split. November 1860 Lincoln wins reelection. Image February 1861 Confederate States of America is formed. March 1861 Lincoln is inaugurated
Who were the candidates in the 1860 presidential election, and what policies did each candidate stand for? Which states seceded right after Lincoln’s election? How did they justify this action? What attempts did the North and the South make to compromise? What were the results? Map
Who were the candidates in the 1860 presidential election, and what policies did each candidate stand for? Lincoln: opposed the expansion of slavery Breckinridge: the federal government should protect slavery Douglas: Popular sovereignty Bell: preserving the Union
Which states seceded right after Lincoln’s election? How did they justify this action? SC, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA and TX The Union was voluntary What attempts did the North and the South make to compromise? What were the results? The Crittenden Plan It was rejected
The Republican party chooses ABRAHAM LINCOLN as their presidential nominee for the 1860 election
Democrats could not agree on how slavery would be explained in their PLATFORM PLATFORM – statements or beliefs, usually on behalf of a political party
The northern and southern Democrats cannot agree so they have two nominees Northern Democrats – Stephen Douglas Southern Democrats – John Breckinridge
Republicans – Abraham Lincoln Southern Democrats – John Breckinridge Northern Democrats – Stephen Douglas Constitutional Union – John Bell
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF
Lincoln wins many votes in the North and since the North has a larger population he wins the election
The South is afraid that Lincoln will now try to abolish slavery in the United States
SECEDE – to withdraw from the Union, split with the country South Carolina becomes the first to secede on December 20, 1860
In the next six weeks more states secede: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas
These states form their own country – THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA
JEFFERSON DAVIS is elected president of the Confederate States of America
Northerners felt that secession was unconstitutional and the South did NOT have the right to leave X
John Crittenden of Kentucky tries to get both sides to solve the problem with the CRITTENDEN PLAN but it fails
Lincoln becomes the 16 th president in March of 1861
Lincoln tells the nation in his inaugural address that he intends to keep the country together
both sides cautiously wait to see what will happen next
The Election of 1860 Back to Maps BACK TO LESSON
Geography: The Slave Population of the South, 1860 Back to Transparencies
Critical Thinking: Cause and Effect Back to Transparencies
Back to Home SECESSION Analyzing Causes Wilmot Proviso (1846) Bill to outlaw slavery in territories taken from Mexico; caused conflict in Congress between Northerners and Southerners Kansas–Nebraska Act (1854) Law to organize Kansas and Nebraska territories; overturned Missouri Compromise; caused violence in Kansas Compromise of 1850 Laws meant to settle problem of slavery; California became free state, new fugitive slave law passed; caused conflict by failing to resolve slavery issue Election of 1860 Lincoln elected with support only in free states; caused states in Deep South to decide to secede