1. The Elections of 1848 & 60
Chapter 10

2. 1848 and the Free-Soilers
National platform of freedom from the “slave power”.
Promise: Free soil, free speech, free labor, free men.
Former president was the Free-soil candidate: promised to keep slavery out of the western territories.
They won only 10% of the vote but drew large attention to their cause.

3. Talk of Secession Calhoun addresses the Senate:
There is fear that the agitation on the subject of slavery will, if not prevented by some timely and effective measure, end in disunion. If the North will not submit to the South’s demands, “let the states agree to separate and part in peace”
“If you are unwilling that we should part in peace, we shall know what to do”. I other words, if the North did not agree to allow California to decide the issue of slavery by popular sovereignty, the South will secede, or break away from the Union.

4. The Republicans and Democrats
Led by Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans accepted slavery where it existed but opposed the further extension of slavery into the territories.
The Democratic Party split. Northern Democrats supported Stephen A. Douglas and popular sovereignty. Southern Democrats supported John C. Breckinridge, the extension of slavery into the territories, and the annexation of Cuba.

5. Lincoln and Douglas:
The Debate of 1858

6. Consequences
Lincoln won the electoral vote but did not receive a majority of the popular vote.
Led by South Carolina, seven Southern states seceded from the Union.