What were two main platform issues in the election of 1860?
The 1860 presidential election turned on a number of issues including secession; the relationship between the federal government, states, and territories; and slavery and abolition.
What was the platform of Abraham Lincoln?
A former Whig, Lincoln ran on a political platform opposed to the expansion of slavery in the territories. His election served as the immediate impetus for the outbreak of the Civil War. After being sworn in as president, Lincoln refused to accept any resolution that would result in Southern secession from the Union.
What was Breckinridge’s political platform?
Breckinridge became a spokesman for the proslavery Democrats, arguing that the federal government had no right to interfere with slavery anywhere, either in the District of Columbia or in any of the territories. Since Breckinridge defended both the Union and slavery, people viewed him as a moderate.
Who were the four presidential candidates in the 1860 election and what were their respective political parties?
Presidential Election of 1860: A Resource Guide
| Political Party | Presidential Nominee | Electoral College |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | Abraham Lincoln | 180 |
| Democratic (Southern) | John Breckenridge | 72 |
| Constitutional Union | John Bell | 39 |
| Democratic | Stephen Douglas | 12 |
What was the Republican Party’s platform in 1860?
The 1860 Republican platform consisted of 17 declarations of principle, of which 10 dealt directly with the issues of free soil principles, slavery, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the preservation of the Union, while the remaining 7 dealing with other issues.
What was John C Breckinridge known for?
John C. Breckinridge (1821-1875) was a politician who served as the 14th vice president of the United States and as a Confederate general during the Civil War (1861-65). He would later play an important role at the Battles of New Market and Cold Harbor before serving as the final Confederate secretary of war in 1865.
How did Southerners react to the Lincoln Douglas debates?
How did southerners react to the Lincoln-Douglas debates? Southerners believed that Abraham Lincoln was an abolitionist and also felt betrayed by Stephen Douglas’s suggestion that territories could refuse to grant slavery legal protection.