K.Q. 1.3 Why did the Republicans win the 1860 presidential election?

Growing strength of abolitionism

John Browns raid on Harpers ferry enraged the North and further grew the strength of the Republican Party

Growing strength of abolitionism

Many other parties may have been sectionally divided not allowing them to build a strong support base

Growing strength of abolitionism

Anti-slavery views were more influenced based on moral aspects such as Dred Scott and the Fugitive Slave Act

Emerging notion of ‘slave power’

Dred Scott decision deepened North fears of slave power. This was a strong point for the Republican Party

Emerging notion of ‘slave power’

North was scared of slavery expansion and the Republican party was the only party to stop slavery

Emerging notion of ‘slave power’

The Democratic Party collapsing and the major sectional divide left people scattered politically giving an upperhand to the Republican Party

Increasing confrontation within and between the North and the South

The growth of slavery caused conflict like Bleeding Kansas

Increasing confrontation within and between the North and the South

The Democrat Party was divided by North democrats and South democrats leaving them on unstable terms

Increasing confrontation within and between the North and the South

Violence occurred between the anti slavery and slavery forces like Harpers ferry

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery and held this position on through his term

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

Douglas supported popular sovereignty and would not agree with Lincoln on his strict no slavery expansion stance

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

Lincoln viewed slavery from a moral aspect and thats how he argued it rather than a political aspect

The election-campaign of 1860 and the divisions of the Democratic Party

North and South Democrats were opposed with Douglas leading the North and Breckinridge leading the South

The election-campaign of 1860 and the divisions of the Democratic Party

North states had majority electoral votes, where the Republican Party thrived

The election-campaign of 1860 and the divisions of the Democratic Party

Northern Democrats advocated for popular sovereignty