UNION PARTY (PRESERVE THE UNION) 13 Election of 1860 LINCOLN REPUBLICAN – STOP EXPANSION OF SLAVERY DOUGLAS NORTHERN DEMOCRAT – POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY VS BELL CONSTITUTIONAL UNION PARTY (PRESERVE THE UNION) BRECKINRIDGE SOUTHERN DEMOCRAT – ADD CUBA & EXPAND SLAVERY

13 Rep. chose Lincoln…was not included on southern ballots South did not approve of Republican victory

14 Secession Crisis On November 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded because of Lincoln’s victory By February 1861 TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, and GA had seceded. They chose Jefferson Davis, a Mississippi senator, as their president. Those states met at Montgomery, Alabama, to formed a new nation and government, called the Confederate States of America.

Response to Secession President Buchanan argued against secession 14 Response to Secession President Buchanan argued against secession Believed the states did not have the right to withdraw No response of action Sen. John Crittenden (KY) Developed a compromise plan in Congress (02/1861) Americans waited for President-elect Lincoln Many were waiting on his reaction @ the inauguration Lincoln spoke forcefully against secession Assured the South he did not intend to abolish slavery in the South His main goal was to maintain the union

During the 1860 election campaign the "Wide Awakes," a marching club composed of young Republican men, appeared in cities throughout the North. (See no. 1860-14.) They often wore uniforms consisting of visored caps and short capes, and carried lanterns. Here Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln (left) is dressed as a "Wide-Awake," and carries a lantern and a spear-like wooden rail. He rounds the corner of the White House foiling the attempts of three other candidates to enter surreptitiously. At far right incumbent James Buchanan tries to haul John C. Breckinridge in through the window. Buchanan complains, "I'll do what I can to help you Breck, but my strength is failing and I'm afraid you'll pull me out before I can pull you in." Breckinridge despairs, ". . . I'm too weak to get up--and we shall be compelled to dissolve the Union.'" His words reflect his and Buchanan's supposed alliance with secessionist interests of the South. In the center Democrat Stephen A. Douglas tries to unlock the White House door, as Constitutional Union party candidate John Bell frets, "Hurry up Douglas! and get the door open, so that I can get in, for the watchman [i.e., Lincoln] is coming." Douglas complains that none of the three keys he holds (labeled "Regular Nomination," "Non Intervention," and "Nebraska Bill") will open the door, ". . . so I'd better be off, for old Abe is after me with a sharp stick."

Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln and running mate Hannibal Hamlin are shown about to destroy a Democratic party paralyzed by internal dissension. The Republicans ride a locomotive named "Equal Rights" toward a crossing where the wagon "Democratic Platform," hitched to two opposing teams, is stalled on the track. The two teams try to pull the wagon in opposite directions. Horses with the heads of Stephen A. Douglas and bearded vice presidential nominee Hershel V. Johnson pull toward the left. A team with the heads of southern Democrats John C. Breckinridge and Joseph Lane strain toward the right. One of the wagon's two drivers is an Indian identified as "a Squatter Sovereing." As a Native American the figure may be a facetious reference to Douglas's endorsement of the principle of popular sovereignty on the question of slavery in the territories. He also represents the Indian chief Tammany, patron of the New York City Democratic machine. He cries, "Now then little Dug! put in and pull, while I cry {grave}Tammany to the rescue,' for I hear a rushing sound that bodes us no good." The driver on the right is incumbent President James Buchanan, an important Breckinridge supporter. He cracks a whip and exhorts his team, "Come Jack, and Joe, pull up! and don't let the other team stir the wagon I'd rather the Machine would be smashed than have them run away with it." Lincoln and Hamlin warn, "Clear the track!" and "Look out for the Engine, when the bell rings!"