The election of 1860 was one of the most pivotal presidential elections in American history. It pitted Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln against three other candidates, including Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, Northern Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, and Constitutional Union candidate John Bell. Lincoln's victory in this election was a major factor that moved the nation closer to war.
Noted Civil War historian Nina Silber, a BU professor of history and American studies, commented on whether the current political climate in the US could lead to a similar divide as seen in 1860. The tensions between the North and South during that time were fueled by issues such as slavery, states' rights, and economic differences.
Richard Carwardine explains how Abraham Lincoln's election victory in 1860 was so important and how he managed to secure the presidency. Lincoln's ability to appeal to a broad coalition of voters and his strong stance against the spread of slavery helped him win the election.
In the years leading up to the election of 1860, the country was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. Nearly half of Americans feared that the country would erupt into civil war within the next decade, highlighting the deep-seated tensions that existed at the time.
After the American Revolution, the divide between the North and South began to widen. Industrialized northern states gradually passed laws that restricted the spread of slavery, while the agrarian southern states relied heavily on slave labor. This economic and social divide contributed to the growing tensions between the two regions.
The 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, strategically chose a vice president who could help him win an election rather than heal a divided country. This decision ultimately reflected the political climate of the time and the need to secure the presidency in a deeply divided nation.
By 1857, events such as "Bleeding Kansas" and the Dred Scott Decision had intensified sectional tensions over slavery and moved the nation closer to civil war. The political and social unrest in the country reached a boiling point during the election of 1860, leading to Lincoln's victory and the subsequent secession of Southern states.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 further heightened tensions between the North and South by allowing settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether slavery would be allowed within their borders. This legislation ultimately fueled the flames of division and pushed the nation closer to war.
