ELECTION OF 1860 Road to Civil War chart

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Northern Democrats Southern Democrats Constitutional Union Republicans Stephen Douglas John C. Breckinridge John Bell Abraham Lincoln Supports popular sovereignty Wants to uphold slavery Takes no position on slavery Slavery should be allowed where it has been established, but it should not spread to new states or territories

BACKGROUND  Lincoln was a lawyer from Illinois  Made a name for himself during the Senatorial race in 1858 when he ran against Stephen Douglas  Lincoln and Douglas had many debates where slavery was the main topic  Lincoln lost the election but gained a national reputation

No spread of slavery in West. No popular Sovereignty. Wants to avoid secessionism over the slavery issue. Believes in popular sovereignty. Supports protecting slavery.

LINCOLN WINS THE ELECTION!

SOUTH SECEDES  Lincoln and other Republicans promised not to disturb slavery where it already existed but would not allow it to spread into new territories  For many Southerners this was too much of a threat to their ideas of slavery  South Carolina holds a special convention and is the first state to secede on December 20, 1860

SOUTH SECEDES  Last minute compromises failed  By February 1, 1860 Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia join South Carolina in  After Lincoln is sworn in in April Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas also secede

CONFEDERATE STATES  The south claimed “states rights” as their reason for seceding the states had voluntarily chosen to enter the Union the constitution was a contract among independent states. They thought the National government had violated that contract Southern states said they were justified in leaving the Union  The called their new nation The Confederate States of America  Jefferson Davis was elected as their president

CIVIL WAR BEGINS  On April 12, 1861 South Carolina Confederate forces open fire on Fort Sumter to drive the Union forces out of the fort and out of South Carolina  The Union troops held out for 33 hours but finally surrendered the fort  The Civil War had begun