U.S. presidential election, 1860

The U.S. presidential election of 1860 is widely considered to be a realigning election.

Nominations

Republican Party nomination

Going into the 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, William H. Seward of New York, Salmon P. Chase of Ohio and Pennsylvania's Simon Cameron were considered the leading contenders for the presidential nomination. However, each of these candidates had offended numerous delegates in one way or another - such as by joining or forming other parties to run against Whigs, who now composed a significant portion of the party. Having few opponents in the party, Abraham Lincoln received the party's nomination on the third ballot, May 16, 1860. Maine's Hannibal Hamlin was chosen as the Vice Presidential nominee.

Related Topics:
1860 - Chicago, Illinois - William H. Seward - New York - Salmon P. Chase - Ohio - Pennsylvania - Simon Cameron - Abraham Lincoln - May 16 - Maine - Hannibal Hamlin

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The party platform clearly stated that slavery would not be allowed to spread any farther, and also promised that tariffs protecting industry would be imposed. A law granting free homesteads in the west to settlers was also part of the platform.

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Constitutional Union Party nomination

Diehard former Whigs and Know-Nothings who felt they could not support the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party formed the Constitutional Union Party, nominating John C. Bell of Tennessee for president and Edward Everett for vice president in Baltimore on May 9, 1860 (one week before Lincoln was nominated).

Related Topics:
Whig - Know-Nothings - Democratic Party - Republican Party - Constitutional Union Party - John C. Bell - Edward Everett - May 9 - 1860

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John Bell was a former Whig and large slaveholder who had opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Lecompton constitution. Edward Everett had been president of Harvard University and a former secretary of state and Cotton Whig in the Fillmore administration. The party platform advocated compromise to save the Union, with a slogan of "the Union as it is, and the Constitution as it is."

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Democratic Party nominations

The Democratic Party was similarly divided.

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At the convention in Charleston in April 1860, 50 southern Democrats walked out over a platform dispute.

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Six candidates were nominated: Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, Daniel S. Dickinson of New York, Joseph Lane of Oregon, James Guthrie of Kentucky, and Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter of Virginia. Douglas was ahead on the first ballot, needing 57 more votes. On the 57th ballot, Douglas was still ahead, but was still 50 votes short of the nomination. In desperation, on May 3 the delegates agreed to stop voting and adjourn the convention.

Related Topics:
Stephen A. Douglas - Andrew Johnson - Daniel S. Dickinson - Joseph Lane - James Guthrie - Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter

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They convened again in Baltimore on June 18. This time 110 southern Democrats (led by "fire-eaters") walked out when the convention would not adopt a resolution supporting slavery in the territories. After many ballots, the remaining Democrats nominated the ticket of Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois and Herschel Vespasian Johnson of Georgia.

Related Topics:
Fire-eaters - Stephen A. Douglas - Herschel Vespasian Johnson

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The Southern Democrats reconvened in Richmond, Virginia and on June 28 nominated incumbent Vice President John Cabell Breckinridge of Kentucky for President, and Joseph Lane of Oregon for Vice President.

Related Topics:
Richmond, Virginia - Vice President - John Cabell Breckinridge - Joseph Lane

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This divide was, of course, caused by the issue of slavery. Those in the South nominated a solidly pro-slavery candidate, while those in the North nominated a candidate who maintained a middle field when discussing slavery.

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