Lincoln's Election & the Secession of the South [APUSH Review]

The Election of 1860 and Its Consequences

Overview of Political Landscape

• The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was contentious, leading the U.S. towards civil war.

• By this time, the second party system had collapsed; Democrats faced off against the newly formed Republican Party, which represented sectional interests—Republicans for the North and Democrats for the South.

Formation of Political Parties

• The Republican Party emerged from a coalition of anti-slavery Whigs and Free Soilers, focusing on preventing slavery's expansion into western territories rather than abolishing it where it already existed.

• Lincoln was chosen as the Republican candidate due to his previous debates on slavery with Stephen Douglas.

Democratic Party Division

• Unlike Republicans, Democrats were divided into factions: Northern Democrats supported Stephen Douglas (popular sovereignty), while Southern Democrats backed Vice President John Breckinridge.

• A faction of Southern Whigs created the Constitutional Union Party, nominating John Bell without addressing slavery issues.

Election Results and Implications

• Lincoln won decisively without any electoral votes from the South; he secured 180 electoral votes compared to a combined total of 123 from other candidates.

• The admission of Minnesota and Oregon as free states helped solidify Republican support by increasing free state representation.

Southern Reaction to Lincoln's Victory

• The election results led many in the South to feel politically marginalized, prompting discussions about secession rather than compromise over slavery.

• Events like John Brown's raid heightened Southern fears regarding their ability to maintain slavery, contributing to their decision to secede.

Secession Movement

• Following Lincoln’s election, South Carolina formally seceded in December 1860, citing threats against slavery as justification.

• Other states followed suit—Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas—and later Virginia and others joined them in forming the Confederate States of America.

Justifications for Secession

• Each state’s articles of secession emphasized protecting slavery as a constitutional right amidst fears that Northern intentions would lead to its abolition.

Confederate Constitution and Ideology

• The Confederacy adopted a new constitution emphasizing Christianity and explicitly protecting slavery within its framework.

Foundational Beliefs of Confederacy

• Alexander Stephens articulated that the Confederacy was founded on principles contrary to racial equality; he claimed that subordination based on race was natural and justified their new government’s existence.

Conclusion: Path Towards War

• With divisions deepened and political tensions high following these events, preparations for conflict began under Lincoln’s leadership.