Download The 1860 Presidential Election: A Divided Nation - Prof. T. Parent and more Study notes Political Science in PDF only on Docsity! 11/14/2011 The Election of 1860 I. Democrats Fire eaters believed if a Republican was elected they must succeed. Most people in both sections had a moderate stance, but there were radicals. Republican party gained ascendency in the north. It was a purely sectional party. They also adopted a anti-south attitude In the late 1850s the Democratic was the only National party. 1858 Stephen Douglas beat Abraham Lincoln in the senate race. Most southerners wanted to prevent Douglas from gaining the nominations, because he was seen as a traitor. Yet he still becomes the northern nomination. 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston South Carolina. Wasn’t a great place to meet. Charleston was extremely hot and didn’t have enough accommodations, which added to the bitterness of the convention. Platform revolved around the western territories and slavery question. Douglas wanted popular sovereignty to become the party’s platform Southerners pointed to the Dred Scott decision which means congress has no power to prohibit slavery in the territories. They want a federal slave code. Both side arrive in Charleston, but the do not reach a compromise. Moderates want to write a platform which was vague and just stated they would like to uphold the constitution. William Lowdes Yancey insisted that a platform be chosen before voting for a candidate so that delegates would chose a side. California and Oregon delegates were pro South Deep south delegate leave the convention, which splits the party wide open. A decision is not made and they reconvene in Baltimore. Pro Douglas southerners send new delegate to the convention in Baltimore, because they believe the fire eaters had vacated their seats. Northern Democrats nominated Douglas Southerners nominate John C. Breckinridge from Kentucky. II. Constitutional Unionist Party made up primarily of conservative Whigs in the upper and border south. Platform was to adhere to the constitution of the United States. Met in Baltimore during may of 1860. *Ambiguity was a valuable tool for all political party. In the north they argued they were the voice of reason and moderations. Wanted to nominate John Critton from Ky. Was seen as a Henry Clay. But he made it clear he didn’t want to be nominated John Bell was nominated from tenn. His Vp was also reluctant Andrew Everret. Only function in the upper south III. Republicans Had fared well in the election of 1856 Republicans were unified in the North. They believed they could capture states like Indiana, Illinois, and the lower north They had to be not seen as radicals in order to win lower south. Had to be more moderate than in 1856 Party leaders came out in opposition to John Brown’s actions. They had to win via the ballot box and not by violence They had to distance themselves from radicals like John Brown. Since 1856 William Henry Seward the party believed he would be nominated as the candidate. He was convinced to wait until 1860 to run by his campaign manager. In reality Seward was really a moderate. Voters in the lower north were suspicious of Seward. Republican Convention was held in 1860. Lincoln was pitted against Douglas even though he lost against him in 1858. Lincoln couldn’t be seen as a radical because he hadn’t made any votes on issues, and he was born in ky and live in Illinois. He was from the Lower north, spoke elegantly, they believed because of his lack of experience he would be easy to manage.
