Campaign of the Century: The Epic Battle for the Presidency in 1860

The 1860 presidential election was one of the most consequential in American history. The outcome of the election would determine whether the United States would remain a united country or whether it would be torn apart by the forces of slavery and sectionalism.

Campaign of the Century: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Election of 1960

by Irwin F. Gellman

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Language	:	English
File size	:	7138 KB
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Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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The election was a four-way race between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate; Stephen Douglas, the Democratic candidate; John Breckinridge, the Southern Democratic candidate; and John Bell, the Constitutional Union candidate.

Lincoln was a relatively unknown politician from Illinois. He had served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives and was best known for his opposition to the expansion of slavery.

Douglas was a well-known and respected politician from Illinois. He had served in the U.S. Senate for 14 years and was best known for his support of popular sovereignty, the idea that the people of each territory should decide whether or not to allow slavery.

Breckinridge was a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. He was a strong supporter of slavery and believed that the South had the right to secede from the Union if it felt its interests were threatened.

Bell was a former U.S. Secretary of War from Tennessee. He was a moderate who opposed both the expansion of slavery and the secession of the South.

The campaign was bitter and divisive. The candidates traded insults and accusations, and the country was on the brink of civil war.

In the end, Lincoln won the election by a narrow margin. He received 180 electoral votes, compared to 123 for Douglas, 72 for Breckinridge, and 39 for Bell.

Lincoln's victory was a major turning point in American history. It marked the end of the era of slavery and the beginning of the Civil War.

The Candidates

• Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky in 1809. He was a self-educated lawyer and politician who served in the Illinois legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. Lincoln was a strong opponent of slavery and believed that the United States should be a unified country.
• Stephen Douglas was born in Vermont in 1813. He was a lawyer and politician who served in the Illinois legislature and the U.S. Senate. Douglas was a strong supporter of popular sovereignty, the idea that the people of each territory should decide whether or not to allow slavery.
• John Breckinridge was born in Kentucky in 1821. He was a lawyer and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Breckinridge was a strong supporter of slavery and believed that the South had the right to secede from the Union if it felt its interests were threatened.
• John Bell was born in Tennessee in 1796. He was a lawyer and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Bell was a moderate who opposed both the expansion of slavery and the secession of the South.

The Issues

The main issues in the 1860 presidential election were slavery, sectionalism, and the future of the Union.

• Slavery was the most divisive issue in the country. The North was largely opposed to slavery, while the South was largely in favor of it. The Republican Party was committed to the abolition of slavery, while the Democratic Party was divided on the issue.
• Sectionalism was the growing division between the North and the South. The North was becoming increasingly industrialized and urban, while the South was becoming increasingly agricultural and rural. This division led to different economic interests and political views.
• The future of the Union was at stake in the election. The Republican Party believed that the Union should be preserved at all costs, while the Democratic Party was more willing to consider secession.

The Campaign

The 1860 presidential campaign was one of the most bitter and divisive in American history. The candidates traded insults and accusations, and the country was on the brink of civil war.

Lincoln's campaign focused on the issue of slavery. He argued that slavery was a moral evil that had to be abolished. He also promised to preserve the Union at all costs.

Douglas's campaign focused on the issue of popular sovereignty. He argued that the people of each territory should be allowed to decide whether or not to allow slavery. He also promised to preserve the Union, but he was willing to consider secession if the South felt its interests were threatened.

Breckinridge's campaign focused on the issue of states' rights. He argued that the South had the right to secede from the Union if it felt its interests were threatened. He also promised to protect slavery.

Bell's campaign focused on the issue of moderation. He argued that the country should avoid the extremes of both the Republican and Democratic parties. He also promised to preserve the Union.

The Election

The 1860 presidential election was held on November 6th, 1860. Lincoln won the election by a narrow margin. He received 180 electoral votes, compared to 123 for Douglas, 72 for Breckinridge, and 39 for Bell.

Lincoln's victory was a major turning point in American history. It marked the end of the era of slavery and the beginning of the Civil War.

The Aftermath

The 1860 presidential election had a profound impact on the United States. It led to the secession of the Southern states and the start of the Civil War. The war lasted for four years and resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 Americans.

The Civil War ended with the victory of the Union. Slavery was abolished, and the United States was reunited. However, the wounds of the war took many years to heal.

The 1860 presidential election was one of the most consequential in American history. It marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. The legacy of the election is still felt today.

Campaign of the Century: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Election of 1960

by Irwin F. Gellman

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7138 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	768 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE