Abolitionism and Lincoln's 1860 Election Victory
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To what extent was the growing strength of abolitionism the reason for Lincoln’s victory in the 1860 Presidential election?
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**Essay Title: The Role of Abolitionism in Abraham Lincoln's Victory in the 1860 Presidential Election**
The 1860 Presidential election was a critical turning point in American history, marking the rise of the Republican party and the election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States. One of the key factors that influenced the outcome of this historic election was the growing strength of abolitionism in the Northern states.
The 1850s were a turbulent period in American politics, marked by increasing tensions over the issue of slavery. The rise of abolitionist sentiment in the North was a significant force shaping the political landscape leading up to the 1860 election. Events such as the violence in Bleeding Kansas and John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry further galvanized anti-slavery activists and contributed to a shift in public opinion.
While many abolitionists viewed Lincoln with skepticism due to his moderate stance on the issue of slavery, his nomination by the Republican party represented a milestone in the fight against the institution. Lincoln's opposition to the expansion of slavery into new territories resonated with many voters in the North who were disillusioned with the Democrats' handling of the slavery question.
The split within the Democratic party, with Northern and Southern factions supporting different candidates, also played a crucial role in Lincoln's victory. The division among Democrats weakened their electoral prospects and bolstered support for the Republican candidate in key swing states.
Furthermore, Republican electoral tactics, particularly in states like New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, proved strategic in securing Lincoln's election victory. By positioning Lincoln as a symbol of the hard-working self-made man of the frontier, the Republicans effectively appealed to a broad cross-section of voters and capitalized on the disarray within the opposition party.
The emergence of smaller parties, such as the Constitutional Unionist Party, further fragmented the political landscape and siphoned off votes from the Democrats, ultimately benefiting Lincoln's electoral prospects.
In conclusion, while the growing strength of abolitionism was a significant factor in shaping the political climate of the late 1850s and early 1860s, Lincoln's victory in the 1860 Presidential election was also influenced by a combination of factors, including the fragmentation of the Democratic party, strategic Republican tactics, and the emergence of smaller parties. The election of Abraham Lincoln marked a pivotal moment in American history and set the stage for the nation's eventual reckoning with the issue of slavery.
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To what extent was the growing strength of abolitionism the reason for Lincoln’s victory in the 1860 Presidential election?
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Possible discussions around the growth in abolitionism:
The growth in abolitionist feeling in the Northern states was clearly important to the political situation of the late 1850s. Many had been radicalised by the horrors of Bleeding Kansas earlier in the decade and supported extreme abolitionist positions. After John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, there were those in the North who celebrated him as a martyr although many also condemned his actions. However, this did not mean that abolitionists flocked to Lincoln as a candidate.
Lincoln was clearly against slavery, but he was not in favour of its rapid and total abolition. Many abolitionists questioned whether Lincoln was really a man they could vote for or whether they should wait for a candidate that was a pure abolitionist. The Annual Report of the American Anti-Slavery Society [AASS] considered Lincoln ‘a good enough Republican for the party’s purposes, but far from being the man for the country’s need.’
Other areas for discussion:
Splits within the Democrat party – the Democrats met in Charleston in April 1860 to choose their candidate for the election in tumultuous mood. Northern Democrats wanted to nominate Stephen Douglas because they felt he had the best chance of beating Republicans in the North. Douglas, though, was an enemy of many Southern Democrats because of his championing of popular sovereignty in new territories. Southern Democrats left the convention and later nominated the then Vice-President John C. Breckenridge. This split would prove fatal to Democratic electoral hopes.
Republican electoral tactics – Republicans met in Chicago in May and understood that any candidate they chose had to be able to carry the North and win the Electoral College. New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Indiana were particularly important states to win. Lincoln emerged as the man who would symbolize the hard-working self-made man of the frontier in these states. His choice was an astute political tactic by Republicans who realized the impact that the Democratic split would have.
Smaller parties – Another group of politicians wanted slavery to not be the central issue of the election and so formed the Constitutional Unionist Party and nominated John Bell as their candidates. This further split the vote in some areas and helped hand victory to Lincoln.
With four presidential candidates in the field, Lincoln received only 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes – enough to narrowly win the crowded election. This meant that 60% of the voters selected someone other than Lincoln.
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