Platform: Slavery must not be allowed in the territories.
Historical Context: The Union in Crisis
Should Slavery Be Regulated in the Territories?"[P]olice regulations can only be established by the local legislature, and if the people are opposed to slavery they will elect representatives to that body who will by unfriendly legislation effectually prevent the introduction of it into their midst. If, on the contrary, they are for it, their legislation will favor its extension..."
-Stephen Douglas August 27, 1858 Freeport, Illinois |
From the nation’s earliest days the issue of slavery had divided many Americans pegging politicians as well as every day citizens against one another. As the nation expanded during the era known as Manifest Destiny slavery became even more of a pressing issue. Arguments waged on over the issue, should slavery be allowed in the new western territories? Southerners said yes; while many northerners said no.
After the American Revolution, the North and the South developed entirely different ways of life. The North focused on developing cities, embraced technology and industry and built factories staffed by paid workers. Immigrants flocked to cities in northern ports and the North became more of a diversified society both economically and socially. The South’s economy on the other hand remained a deeply embed in agriculture. The economy revolved around a single crop: cotton. The grow cotton and boost the economy southern plantation owners depend on the labor of enslaved African Americans. |
The Shifting Political SceneTraditionally, American political parties have extended across sectional lines. Whigs and Democrats had come from the North, South and West. Presidents had also come from all areas of the nation. However in the 1840s, American politics began to reflection section differences. These regional tensions were largely created over the issue of slavery.
The Election of 1860 remained a crucial turning point for the United States. The country remained divided over the issue of slavery. There were no longer any national political parties. Instead the political parties stood as clear determinants of the northern and southern ideologies. Bell and Breckinridge competed for the southern votes, while Lincoln and Douglass competed for the North and West. If it wasn’t as explicit before, the North and South were effectively two entirely different political entities. |
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Key Players in the Election of 1860
Why It Matters: The election of 1860 was the first national contest for the Republican Party, which became one of the two major political parties. More importantly, the election was the immediate cause for the secession of southern states.
Lapsansky-Werner, Emma J. Prentice Hall United States History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.