1. Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860

2. Abraham Lincoln Born in a single room log cabin, not much money
Experienced loss; depressed
lost his mother when he was 9, brother died as an infant, older sister died during childbirth, romantic interest died, Lincoln’s son died.
Mary Todd Lincoln – wife
Taught himself law, became successful lawyer
Interest in politics

3. Lincoln – Douglas Debates
Stephen A. Douglas is candidate running for US Senator for Illinois; public nominate Abraham Lincoln to run against Douglas
Lincoln challenges Douglas to a series of political debates across the state of Illinois – they have 7
Discuss the issue of slavery, states’ rights, preservation of Union
Lincoln loses race for Senator
Lincoln has debates published the following year and his views were important in gaining support for presidency
Lincoln gained popularity

4. Election of 1860 Republican – Abraham Lincoln
Democrat – Stephen Douglas
Southern Democrat – John Breckenridge
Constitutional Union Party (former Whig) – John Bell
1860 election established the Democratic and Republican majority parties in the US
Lincoln wins election – 16th President

5. Secession Secede – break away from entity
South Carolina is the first to secede from the Union (December 1860)
TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, GA and SC had all seceded by Feb 1861
Meet in AL to form new nation
Confederate States of America
Senator Jefferson Davis of MS is nominated as President
They believe gov’t broke contract so they could leave the Union