Election of 1860 The Election That Changed It All
Jan 20, 2018
Election of 1860The Election That Changed It
All
Sectionalism The differences between the North and the South lead to sectionalism
Loyalty to one’s own region without regards to others needs
Election Year 4 candidates ran for office of
president Democrats – 2
• Stephen Douglas – Northern• John Breckinridge – Southern
Republicans• Abraham Lincoln
Constitutional Unionist • John Bell
Now What? What problem could happen if the Democratic Party has 2 candidates running at the same time?
What impact does multiple candidates have on elections?
Electoral College Electoral College casts votes for the
president based on how their state votes
Each state gets votes based on the number of representatives in Congress
Majority of votes becomes winner and President
Election Time Abraham Lincoln wins the election Sectionalism caused the
Democratic Party votes to be split amongst 3 candidates
What does this mean for South? If Lincoln was elected just by Northern votes, the North clearly has a majority in government
What might the Northern representatives try to get rid of?
December 20, 1861 South Carolina secedes from the United States of America to create a new country
Other states soon follow and they create the Confederate States of America
Why Secede? State’s Rights!
• South argues that it is the right of a state to make laws regarding property not the national government
• The national government is becoming too powerful and will take away rights of individual states
North Carolina Will be the last state to secede from the Union during May of 1861