1. The Rail-Splitter Splits the Union

2. Introduction and background
As the democratic party was attempting to gather a two-thirds vote for Stephen Douglas, the northern democrats and the southern democrats entered a heated debate. They argued over the party platform and the delegates from the southern states were so perturbed that they walked out and left. The Democrats from the North and South decided that their differences were too great leading to the party split. The Republican Party saw this event as a clear sign of weakness and they saw their opportunity to take advantage of this in the Election of 1860.

3. Abraham Lincoln “The Railsplitter”
Abraham Lincoln emerged as the republican candidate amidst the chaos of Lincoln’s platform included the following: Non- extension of slavery, a protective tariff for northern manufacturers, natural rights for immigrants, free homesteads for western settlers as well as internal improvements. Southerners declared his election would lead to the split of the union, and strongly resisted his campaign. Despite this, Lincoln ended up winning in a landslide with 180 electoral votes.

4. Electorate map of 1860 election

5. Source

6. O- O is on the next slide.
C- In the artwork, Abe Lincoln is splitting rails. Surrounding him are slogans saying, “VOTE LINCOLN”.
P- The purpose was to visually compare Abe Lincoln as a rail splitter, symbolizing his hand in splitting the Union due to his platform as the republican candidate
V- This document is important because it summarizes the main consequence of Lincoln’s 1860 campaign
L- This document was created in the 21st century to appear to look like it was made in the 19th century, therefore it loses the experience and importance of actually being created while the primary event is occurring.

7. F- This document is a drawing that is a secondary source.
A- This document was not created by an individual person, it was created by a website. This website is
T- The year that this document was produced was unknown.
P- There is also no location associated with the creating of this secondary source.
B- The political views of the artist and the current events occurring at the time easily could have affected the creation of this document.

8. 2 questions
Which part of Lincoln’s platform helped him the greatest to secure the electoral vote?
How did the republican party differ then from the republican party we see today?