The Election of 1860
1. The issue of slavery eventually caused the Democratic party to split into the Northern and Southern Democrats.
2. The Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas for presidency and believed popular sovereignty, while the Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge and supported slavery and the Dred Scott decision.
3. People from both the North and the South without a strong opinion on slavery formed the Constitutional Union Party and nominated John Bell as their candidate.
Lincoln Nominated
1. The Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidential election of 1860.
2. They believed that slavery should be left as it was in the current state and excluded from any new territories of the U.S.
3. Many Southerners believed that the Republicans' views would cause slave revolts.
Lincoln Elected
1. Because of the division in the Democratic Party, Lincoln won the election by winning the votes of every Northern state.
2. In result, Lincoln won because the North had a greater population than the Southern states.
3. Unfortunately, his victory was short and the U.S. began to disintegrate under the issue of slavery.
2. The Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas for presidency and believed popular sovereignty, while the Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge and supported slavery and the Dred Scott decision.
3. People from both the North and the South without a strong opinion on slavery formed the Constitutional Union Party and nominated John Bell as their candidate.
Lincoln Nominated
1. The Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidential election of 1860.
2. They believed that slavery should be left as it was in the current state and excluded from any new territories of the U.S.
3. Many Southerners believed that the Republicans' views would cause slave revolts.
Lincoln Elected
1. Because of the division in the Democratic Party, Lincoln won the election by winning the votes of every Northern state.
2. In result, Lincoln won because the North had a greater population than the Southern states.
3. Unfortunately, his victory was short and the U.S. began to disintegrate under the issue of slavery.
The South Secedes
1. Although the Republicans had promised to leave slavery where it was, many Southerners distrusted Lincoln and his political party.
2. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina finally decided to secede from the Union during a convention.
Attempt at Compromise
1. Although some Southern states considered secession with South Carolina, many waned to keep the Union together.
2. On December 18, 1860, John Crittenden presented a list of amendments for the Constitution that mainly protected slavery south of the 36°30'N.
3. Both Republicans and Southern leaders rejected Bell's plan and no compromise was made between the North and the South.
The Confederacy
1. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia also seceded from the Union and joined South Carolina on February 4, 1861 to form a new nation called the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as their president.
2. The Confederates justified their sucession by explaining that the government had violated the Constitution.
3. When the government had refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and denied them equal rights in the new territories, their states' rights had been violated, and they had a right to leave the Union.
Reactions to Sucession
1. Although many Southerners welcomes sucession, other Southerners were alarmed by the news.
2. Some Northerners expressed the fact that they preferred the Union without the Southern states and the continuous issue of slavery.
3. However, most Northerners believed that the Union should be preserved at all costs.
Presidential Responses
1. While President Buchanan disliked the dividing of the Union, he stated that he had no power to stop the Southern states from secession, and many wondered what Lincoln's opinions were.
2. Even as slave states, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennesee, Missouri, and Arkansas remained in the Union and many were afraid that they would secede if the Union attacked the Confederacy.
3. On March 4, 1861, President Lincoln asked the South to return to the Union while promising to enforce federal laws if needed in his Inaugural Address.
2. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina finally decided to secede from the Union during a convention.
Attempt at Compromise
1. Although some Southern states considered secession with South Carolina, many waned to keep the Union together.
2. On December 18, 1860, John Crittenden presented a list of amendments for the Constitution that mainly protected slavery south of the 36°30'N.
3. Both Republicans and Southern leaders rejected Bell's plan and no compromise was made between the North and the South.
The Confederacy
1. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia also seceded from the Union and joined South Carolina on February 4, 1861 to form a new nation called the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as their president.
2. The Confederates justified their sucession by explaining that the government had violated the Constitution.
3. When the government had refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and denied them equal rights in the new territories, their states' rights had been violated, and they had a right to leave the Union.
Reactions to Sucession
1. Although many Southerners welcomes sucession, other Southerners were alarmed by the news.
2. Some Northerners expressed the fact that they preferred the Union without the Southern states and the continuous issue of slavery.
3. However, most Northerners believed that the Union should be preserved at all costs.
Presidential Responses
1. While President Buchanan disliked the dividing of the Union, he stated that he had no power to stop the Southern states from secession, and many wondered what Lincoln's opinions were.
2. Even as slave states, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennesee, Missouri, and Arkansas remained in the Union and many were afraid that they would secede if the Union attacked the Confederacy.
3. On March 4, 1861, President Lincoln asked the South to return to the Union while promising to enforce federal laws if needed in his Inaugural Address.
Fort Sumter
1. To test President Lincoln's promises, the South seized some U.S. forts that were within the Confederate States of America.
2. Although Lincoln wasn't inclined to start a war, he did not want the South to think that they had the right to secede.
3. On the day of Lincoln's inauguration, he recieved a notice from the commander of Fort Sumter who warned of the new president of their dwindling supplies and the Confederates' demand to surrender.
The War Begins
1. Lincoln sent a message to General Francis Pickens of South Carolina, promising that although he was sending supplies, the Union would not fire unless attacked first.
2. On April 12, 1861, Confederate president Jefferson Davis decided to attack Fort Sumter before the Union supplies arrived.
3. After holding on for 33 hours, the Union surrendered on April 14, 1861, and Virginia, North Carolina, Tennesee, and Arkansas joined the Confederates, while Lincoln gathered 75,000 volunteers to fight for the Union.
2. Although Lincoln wasn't inclined to start a war, he did not want the South to think that they had the right to secede.
3. On the day of Lincoln's inauguration, he recieved a notice from the commander of Fort Sumter who warned of the new president of their dwindling supplies and the Confederates' demand to surrender.
The War Begins
1. Lincoln sent a message to General Francis Pickens of South Carolina, promising that although he was sending supplies, the Union would not fire unless attacked first.
2. On April 12, 1861, Confederate president Jefferson Davis decided to attack Fort Sumter before the Union supplies arrived.
3. After holding on for 33 hours, the Union surrendered on April 14, 1861, and Virginia, North Carolina, Tennesee, and Arkansas joined the Confederates, while Lincoln gathered 75,000 volunteers to fight for the Union.