1. Chapter 14: The Nation Divided
Section 4: The Coming of the Civil War

2. Election of 1860 Long, bitter debate left the country feeling divided
Republicans: Abraham Lincoln
North Dems: Stephen Douglas Split over the issue of slavery
South Dems: John Breckenridge
Constitutional Union: John Bell (protect slavery/keep nation together)
John John Stephen
Breckenridge Bell Douglas

3. Election of 1860
Stephen Douglas campaigned in the South on keeping the Union together
Often pelted with eggs and rotten fruit in South
Lincoln won every free state/ Breckenridge won every slave state
Although Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote, he won the electoral vote…

4. Southern States Secede
Lincoln’s election shocked the South
Many believed they no longer had a voice in government
They believed the President and Congress were now set against their interest
Dec : South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union

5. The Confederate States of America
6 more states followed S.C Jefferson
Davis
Not all southerners favored secession:
Andrew Johnson (Tenn.)
Sam Houston (Tx)
Feb. 1861: leaders from the 7 seceding states met in Alabama to create a new nation
They selected Jefferson Davis (Miss.) as President

6. The Civil War Begins
March 4, 1861: Lincoln becomes president facing the greatest crisis of US History
In his inaugural address, he tried to reassure & offer friendship to the South
The South rejected all attempts at reconciliation & took over federal post offices and forts in the South

7. Fort Sumter

8. Fort Sumter Lincoln’s most pressing problem coming into office…
Located in the harbor of Charleston, SC
S.C. authorities set up a siege of the island

9. Fort Sumter
To prevent further secession, Lincoln sends food supplies only to the island
Confederate leaders decided to capture the fort
April 12, 1861: Confederate artillery opened fire
The fort fell after 34 hours

10. Was War Avoidable?
In 1850, if the South had been left alone, the war might have been avoided
By 1861, most people in the North & South accepted the idea that war could not be avoided

11. Questions
Why did the election of Abraham Lincoln spark the secession of southern states?
How did divisions among the Democrats help lead to the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860?
Why did the southern states secede from the Union?
Why was Lincoln reluctant to give up Fort Sumter?
What event marked the start of the Civil War between the North and the South?