The Causes of the Civil War Part Three: The Republicans and the Election of 1860

The Republican Party The Republicans began after the Kansas- Nebraska Act. Northern politicians were worried that slavery would spread west.

The Republican Party The party was made up of two groups, moderates and radicals. Radical Republicans wanted to abolish slavery across America, moderates leaned towards Lincoln’s ideas.

The Illinois Republican Convention In 1858, Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided speech.”

A House Divided Lincoln believed that the nation could not exist half-slave and half-free

A House Divided He believed that the nation was moving towards an “all-slave” nation. – Kansas-Nebraska opened the territories – Dred Scott decision – Election of james Buchannan in 1856

The Raid Harper’s Ferry October 16, 1859 – all was peaceful in Harper’s Ferry, VA.

The Raid on Harper’s Ferry Yet that morning, one man planned to begin a rebellion.

The Raid on Harper’s Ferry John Brown and 21 others (including 5 blacks) stormed the town, capturing a small armory.

The Raid on Harper’s Ferry Locals went to nearby Charles Town and notified the military. John Brown took hostages and bunkered down in an engine room

The Raid on Harper’s Ferry On leave in nearby Arlington, VA, Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee was called upon to end the siege

The Raid on Harper’s Ferry Lee sent in the troops, using sabers only. John Brown was captured

The Raid on Harper’s Ferry Brown was tried for treason, convicted, and hanged in Charles Town.

The Last Words of John Brown

The Election of 1860 Before the next presidential election, the Democratic party split on North/South Lines

The Election of 1860 There were four different candidates running. Only one scared the South.

The Election of 1860 Lincoln won, getting less than 40% of the vote

The Election of 1860

One month after Lincoln won, South Carolina announced it was seceding (withdrawing) from the Union.

The Election of 1860 Over the next six weeks, six more states would follow. – Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas

DO SOMETHING!!! Outgoing president, James Buchannan, did nothing. He decided to let Lincoln sort it out.

Lincoln’s inauguration As Lincoln took the oath of office, the nation was falling apart.