Unit 5 Study Notes - Effects of the Election of 1860

Introduction

  • Overview of the increasing tension in the United States regarding slavery.

  • Previous discussion on the failure of compromise related to slavery.

  • Focus of this video: the election of 1860 as a pivotal event leading to disunion and the Civil War.

Context of the 1860 Election

Central Question

  • What were the effects of the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860?

Political Landscape

  • The Republican Party's performance in the midterm congressional elections increased tension among Southern Democrats about the upcoming presidential election.

  • Democratic nominee: Stephen Douglas from the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

  • Republican nominee: Abraham Lincoln, who campaigned on a free soil platform.

Free Soil Movement

  • Definition and Objective

    • The Free Soil Movement aimed to prevent the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories.

    • Critical distinction: focus on curtailing the spread of slavery, NOT the abolition of slavery in existing slave-holding areas.

  • Clarification on Lincoln’s Position

    • Lincoln was not an abolitionist; he assured Southern voters that he would not interfere with slavery where it was already established.

    • His goal was to halt the expansion of slavery.

Democratic Party Division

Factions

  • The Democratic Party was divided into:

    • Northern Faction:

    • Led by Stephen Douglas; advocated for popular sovereignty, allowing territories to decide on slavery.

    • Southern Faction:

    • Represented by John Breckinridge; demanded federal protection of slavery in new territories before deciding on statehood.

Implications of Division

  • Divided factions and rival candidates in a single party usually hamper electoral success.

Election Results

Voting Outcomes

  • Lincoln garnered 40% of the popular vote but won the electoral vote due to the division within the Democratic Party.

  • Notable fact: Lincoln won without a single electoral vote from Southern states.

  • Implications for Southerners

    • This result highlighted the powerlessness felt by Southern states, despite their political involvement.

    • Lincoln’s presidency signaled the end of slavery's expansion.

Immediate Consequences of Lincoln's Election

Southern Response

  • Concerns about the political dominance of the North and events like John Brown’s raid led to fears of existential threats to Southern society.

  • The conclusion drawn by Southern states: survival in the Union was untenable.

Secession Movement

  • December 1860: South Carolina seceded from the Union.

  • Within six weeks, six additional states followed suit:

    • Florida

    • Alabama

    • Georgia

    • Texas

    • Mississippi

    • Louisiana

  • Additional states: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina also eventually seceded.

  • Formation of the Confederate States of America (CSA).

    • The CSA established a Constitution similar to the U.S. Constitution but limited federal power and enshrined slavery.

Analyzing the Reason for Secession

Competing Explanations

  • Two main arguments for the reason behind Southern secession:

    • Protection of Slavery: The primary motive for secession.

    • States' Rights: The legalistic justification for leaving the Union.

Articles of Secession

  • States drafted articles of secession clarifying their reasons for leaving the Union.

  • Texas: Stated the country is controlled by a sectional party promoting the equality of races, which they condemned.

    • Accusations against Republicans included intentions to abolish slavery and recognize political equality between races.

  • South Carolina: Focused on constitutional rights violations, specifically against Northern support for abolitionist principles.

    • Claims that the Republican party sought to exclude southern interests from governance and wage war against slavery.

  • Mississippi: Clearly stated the link between their position and the institution of slavery.

  • Jefferson Davis: The first president of the Confederacy made no mention of slavery in his inauguration speech, but the vice president, Alexander Stephens, did outline that the Confederacy was built on the supremacy of the white race over the black race and the perpetual institution of slavery.

Conclusion

  • Evidence shows that secession was primarily about preserving slavery, not merely states' rights.

  • Each state’s own declarations indicate their collective rationale centered on the need to protect slavery.