1. A New Political Party

2. People who opposed slavery joined together to form the new Republican Party. They chose Abraham Lincoln as their candidate for United States Senate in Illinois.

3. The Republicans and Democrats battled over the issues of slavery and states’ rights.

4. Lincoln’s opponent was Senator Stephen Douglas
Lincoln’s opponent was Senator Stephen Douglas. Lincoln opposed the spread of slavery, while Douglas believed in state’s rights.

5. Even though Lincoln lost, the debates made him a leader in the Republican party.

6. Two years later Douglas and Lincoln would battle again, this time for the presidency.

7. Lincoln won the presidential election, without winning any Southern electoral votes.

8. Southerners were worried they would have no voice in the new government. The time of compromise had come to an end.

9. After Lincoln was elected President, South Carolina decided to secede
After Lincoln was elected President, South Carolina decided to secede. Six more states soon followed: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

10. The seceding states met in Montgomery, Alabama and formed their own government called The Confederate States of America, or ‘The Confederacy.’

11. The Confederacy adopted a constitution that supported slavery and states’ rights. They elected Jefferson Davis president. Abraham Lincoln was president of the Union.