The Election of 1860

The election of 1860 was a very exciting election for a number of reasons: 

First, Abraham Lincoln was the candidate for an almost brand new party called the Republican Party, at that time it was only six years old.  Lincoln's platform, his key plan once he became president, was to keep slavery completely out of Mexican Cession, also known as the new territories that had been annexed from Mexico 11 years earlier. 

Second, the Democratic Party split into two different groups over the issue of slavery. Northern Democrats felt the residents of the territories should decide for themselves whether slavery should be allowed.  They nominated Illinois Senator, Stephen Douglas.  Douglas and Lincoln had ran against each other once before for senator of Illinois in 1858.  Douglas had won that contest. Southern Democrats who wanted slavery extended regardless of the residents’ desires nominated Vice President John Breckinridge of Kentucky. 

Third, there was a fourth candidate named John Bell.  He ran under the platform of “Keep the Union together at all costs".  He was running under the Constitutional Union Party. 

Fifth, the campaign was very heated. In fact, Lincoln was not even on the ballot in the states of the Deep South. Those were the states that were furthest from the North. Lincoln only won 40% of the popular vote.  That means 40% of the people voted for Lincoln. 

In conclusion, because the Democratic Party split by having two different candidates Lincoln was able to win the presidency.  If the Democratic party had not had two different candidates Lincoln would not have won.