1. The Coming of the Civil War
Chapter 14
Section 4

2. Chapter 14 Section 4 The Coming of the Civil War
Essential question:
Why did the election of Abraham Lincoln spark the secession of southern states?

3. Chapter 14 Section 4 The Coming of the Civil War
The Nation Divides
As the election of 1860 drew near, Americans felt a sense of crisis. The long and bitter debate over slavery had left the nation seriously divided.

4. Candidates 1860 Election Northern Democrats Stephen Douglas
Republicans Abraham Lincoln
Constitutional Union John Bell
Southern Democrats John Breckinridge

5. Candidates 1860 Election The democrats platform said to keep slavery
Northern Democrats Stephen Douglas
Southern Democrats John Breckinridge

6. Candidates 1860 Election Republicans want to get rid of slavery
Republicans Abraham Lincoln

7. Candidates 1860 Election
Constitutional Union wants compromise on slavery
Constitutional Union John Bell

8. Candidates 1860 Election
Northern Democrats Stephen Douglas
Republicans Abraham Lincoln
Only Lincoln and Douglas were on the ballot in the North

9. Candidates 1860 Election
Only Bell and Breckinridge were on the ballot in the South
Constitutional Union John Bell
Southern Democrats John Breckinridge

10. 1860 Presidential Election Results
Candidate
Party
Electoral Votes %
Popular Votes
Lincoln
Republican
180
59%
1,866,452
39%
Breckinridge
Democrat 72
24%
849,781
18%
Bell
Union 39
13%
588,879
Douglas 12 4%
1,376,957
30%
Totals
303
4,682,069

11. 1860 Presidential Election Results
180 72 39 12
Lincoln Breckinridge Bell Douglas

12. Bell won Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Douglas won only Missouri.
Lincoln carried only 40 percent of the popular vote, but received enough electoral votes to win the presidency.
The election showed how fragmented the nation had become. Lincoln won every free state. Breckinridge won every slave holding state except four.

13. South realized it had no power in national politics
Feared slavery would be abolished and slaves freed
Lincoln elected President without the support of a single southern state

14. Southern states secedes
Reasons for Secession
Did not believe federal government would protect the South
Believed States voluntarily created the United States, so States could leave if they wanted South Carolina becomes first state to secede.

15. Southern States join South Carolina
South Carolina Dec
Florida Jan
Mississippi Jan
Alabama Jan
Louisiana Jan
Texas Feb
Georgia Jan

16. Confederate States of America were created
Jefferson Davis selected President
Montgomery Alabama was the Capital

17. Davis said South had to have slavery to survive
Most Southerners were ready to defend their homes, not slavery

18. Northern Response
Northerners didn’t think states could leave United States
People not the States created the US
Union created the States
States have no right to leave
If states leave, US would fall apart

19. Why did southern states secede from the Union?
Many southerners felt that with Lincoln’s election, the South no longer had a voice in the National Government.

20. Crisis at Fort Sumter
April 4, 1861 – Lincoln announces he will re-supply Fort Sumter, South Carolina and Fort Pickens, Florida

21. Confederates attack Fort Sumter April 12 1861

22. Bombardment of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor April 12 and 13, 1861

23. Confederate Flag flies over Fort Sumter

27. Fort Sumter is the start of the Civil War

28. Chapter 14 Section 4 The Coming of the Civil War
Why Lincoln reluctant to give up Fort Sumter?
He feared giving it up would show weakness and encourage further secession.

29. Chapter 14 Section 4 The Coming of the Civil War Section 4 Essential Question:
Why did the election of Abraham Lincoln spark the secession of southern states?
Southerners believed that Lincoln would make laws that would limit or abolish slavery.