Chapter 14: The Nation Divided Section 4: The Coming of the Civil War

Election of 1860 Long, bitter debate left the country feeling divided Republicans: Abraham Lincoln North Dems: Stephen Douglas Split over the issue of slavery South Dems: John Breckenridge Constitutional Union: John Bell (protect slavery/keep nation together) John John Stephen Breckenridge Bell Douglas

Election of 1860 Stephen Douglas campaigned in the South on keeping the Union together Often pelted with eggs and rotten fruit in South Lincoln won every free state/ Breckenridge won every slave state Although Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote, he won the electoral vote…

Southern States Secede Lincoln’s election shocked the South Many believed they no longer had a voice in government They believed the President and Congress were now set against their interest Dec. 20 1860: South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union

The Confederate States of America 6 more states followed S.C. Jefferson Davis Not all southerners favored secession: Andrew Johnson (Tenn.) Sam Houston (Tx) Feb. 1861: leaders from the 7 seceding states met in Alabama to create a new nation They selected Jefferson Davis (Miss.) as President

The Civil War Begins March 4, 1861: Lincoln becomes president facing the greatest crisis of US History In his inaugural address, he tried to reassure & offer friendship to the South The South rejected all attempts at reconciliation & took over federal post offices and forts in the South

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter Lincoln’s most pressing problem coming into office… Located in the harbor of Charleston, SC S.C. authorities set up a siege of the island

Fort Sumter To prevent further secession, Lincoln sends food supplies only to the island Confederate leaders decided to capture the fort April 12, 1861: Confederate artillery opened fire The fort fell after 34 hours

Was War Avoidable? In 1850, if the South had been left alone, the war might have been avoided By 1861, most people in the North & South accepted the idea that war could not be avoided

Questions Why did the election of Abraham Lincoln spark the secession of southern states? How did divisions among the Democrats help lead to the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860? Why did the southern states secede from the Union? Why was Lincoln reluctant to give up Fort Sumter? What event marked the start of the Civil War between the North and the South?