Unit 5: Topic 7 - Election of 1860 and Secession Flashcards
What were the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
They were a series of seven debates between Democratic senator from Illinois, Stephen Douglas, and Republican challenger, Abraham Lincoln, during the 1858 Illinois senatorial campaign.
As a newcomer, Lincoln challenged Douglas to debates, and Douglass agreed. For Lincoln, it was an opportunity to raise his national profile and burgeon the Republican Party. At the same time, Douglas sought to defend himself—especially his leading role in the doctrine of popular sovereignty that he stated in the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854.
How did Lincoln and Douglas portray each other throughout the debate, and how did it affect people’s viewpoints of them?
Douglas’s attack toward Lincoln:
Lincoln was not an abolitionist but was against the expansion of slavery. So, Douglas repeatedly tried to portray Lincoln as a radical who advocated racial equality because almost everyone was against racial equality at that time. Lincoln argued that the nation had reached the crisis point in the struggle between slavery and freedom, stating, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Lincoln’s attack toward Douglas:
Lincoln said that Douglas was a covert defender of slavery, and forced him into publicly supporting popular sovereignty over the Dred Scott decision. Douglas’s reply was “Freeport Doctrine”. In this, Douglas argued slavery could not exist in a community if the local citizens did not pass laws (slave codes) maintaining it.
Though Lincoln lost, it gave him respect within the Republican party, and Douglas’s position angered the south since he didn’t support the Dred Scott decision, leading to a divide within the Democratic party.
Which candidate did the Republican Party endorse in the election of 1860?
Republicans endorsed Abraham Lincoln for their party. He ran on a free-soil platform because he was against the spread of slavery in newly acquired western territories but didn’t want to abolish slavery in existing territories. He also supported protective tariffs, free land for homesteaders, and internal improvements.
Which candidate did the Constitution Union Party endorse in the election of 1860?
Constitution Union Party endorsed John Bell, who ran on the platform of preserving the union and enforcing the current laws and the constitution.
Explain the democratic party factions and the impact it had on the 1860 election.
The Democratic Party was divided into two parts:
Northern Democrats:
They were represented by Stephen Douglas and wanted to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. They also supported the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act.
Southern Democrats:
They were represented by John Breckinridge and wanted an unrestricted expansion of slavery and annexation of Cuba.
The factions divided the Democratic Party vote, allowing Abraham Lincoln to win the election without a single electoral vote from the South.
How did the South react to Lincoln winning the election of 1860?
Secession
Thinking that Lincoln would abolish slavery, the deep Southern states began to secede. South Carolina was the first in December of 1860, followed by six additional states.
In February 1861, the representatives of the seceding states met in Montgomery, Alabama, formed the Confederate States of America, and adopted a Confederate Constitution. They elected Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as their president.
How did the Confederate Constitution adopted at Montgomery, Alabama differ from the U.S. Constitution?
The Confederate Constitution did not differ significantly from the U.S. Constitution, a testament to the strength of the original document. Among the minor changes, the Confederate Constitution:
- limited the President to one six-year term
- gave the President a line item veto
- barred any limits on slavery’s extension
- included limits on national tariffs.
What was the Crittenden Compromise ?
The Crittenden Compromise was a plan to make slavery legal forever in American territory located south of latitude 36°30′N (Missouri’s southern border). It was an attempt to stop the southern US states from seceding from the country.
The Crittenden Compromise failed because it was too radical since the amendment couldn’t be changed. Slavery in the US would have been legal indefinitely.
