The U.S. presidential election of 1860 was a realigning election. The nation had been divided through most of the 1850's on the issue of slavery, with Northerners and Southerners disagreeing over whether or not it should be expanded to the territories, and fighting for each new state admitted to the Union. In 1860, this issue finally came to a head, bringing Abraham Lincoln and the Republican party to power, while it simultaneously fractured the formerly dominant Democratic Party in two.
The immediate result was the secession of seven southern states to form their own country and the outbreak of the American Civil War.
Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln in 1860. At the time the Republican party was generally opposed to the expansion of slavery, but candidate Abraham Lincoln was opposed to risking succession by outlawing it where it was already practiced.
John Breckinridge, photographed after the war. During this Election he was of the southern Democratic Party. Breckinridge was Vice President at the time of the election, and later served as the Confederate Army, eventually serving as their final Secretary of War.
John Bell of the Constitutional Union party, which sought to avoid the dissolution of the Union.
Stephen Douglas of the Democratic Party. Though he disagreed with Lincoln politically, he still sought to preserve the union following the election.
Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln in 1860. At the time the Republican party was generally opposed to the expansion of slavery, but candidate Abraham Lincoln was opposed to risking succession by outlawing it where it was already practiced.
John Breckinridge, photographed after the war. During this Election he was of the southern Democratic Party. Breckinridge was Vice President at the time of the election, and later served as the Confederate Army, eventually serving as their final Secretary of War.
John Bell of the Constitutional Union party, which sought to avoid the dissolution of the Union.
Stephen Douglas of the Democratic Party. Though he disagreed with Lincoln politically, he still sought to preserve the union following the election..png)
