A Divided Nation Elects Lincoln
In Grade 8 U.S. History, students study the pivotal 1860 presidential election in which Abraham Lincoln won without a single Southern electoral vote, as the Democratic Party split between Northern and Southern candidates over slavery. Lincoln's victory prompted Southern states to begin seceding from the Union, triggering the Civil War. This topic is in California myWorld Interactive Grade 8, Chapter 5: Society and Culture Before the Civil War.
Key Concepts
The presidential election of 1860 revealed a nation fractured over slavery. The Democratic Party split into northern and southern factions, unable to agree on a single candidate. This division allowed the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln , to win the presidency.
Lincoln and the Republican Party opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories. He won the election without his name appearing on the ballot in ten southern states. For many southerners, Lincoln's victory was a sign that the federal government no longer protected their interests.
Common Questions
Why was the 1860 presidential election important?
Lincoln's 1860 victory was a turning point because he won without any Southern electoral votes, prompting Southern states to secede from the Union and sparking the Civil War.
Why did the Democratic Party split in 1860?
Northern and Southern Democrats split over slavery: Northern Democrats backed Stephen Douglas, who supported popular sovereignty, while Southern Democrats demanded federal protection of slavery in all territories and nominated John Breckinridge.
How did Lincoln's election cause the Civil War?
Southern states feared Lincoln would restrict or eventually abolish slavery, and since he had won without Southern votes, they felt they had no political power to protect their interests, leading South Carolina and others to secede.
What chapter in California myWorld Interactive Grade 8 covers Lincoln's election?
Chapter 5: Society and Culture Before the Civil War (1820-1860) covers the 1860 election and its consequences in California myWorld Interactive, Grade 8.