On November 6th, 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a relatively unknown politician from the Republican Party, was elected as the 16th President of the United States. His election marked a pivotal moment in American history and set the stage for the American Civil War.
Key points about Abraham Lincoln's election:
- Political Climate: The United States was deeply divided in the years leading up to the election of 1860. The main issue of contention was slavery, with Northern states opposing its expansion into new territories and Southern states defending their right to own slaves.
- Republican Party: Abraham Lincoln was the Republican Party's candidate in the election. The Republican Party was founded on an anti-slavery platform, and its success in the election reflected the growing opposition to the spread of slavery.
- Election Outcome: Lincoln won the election with 180 electoral votes, carrying 18 of the 33 states. He won the election without receiving a single electoral vote from the Southern states, where he was not even on the ballot in some states.
- Secession: Following Lincoln's election, several Southern states, beginning with South Carolina in December 1860, seceded from the Union in protest of his victory. They believed that a Republican president would threaten their interests and way of life.
- Civil War: Lincoln's election and the subsequent secession of Southern states ultimately led to the American Civil War, which began in April 1861. The conflict lasted for four years and resulted in the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the United States as a single nation.
Abraham Lincoln's election as president was a critical moment in U.S. history, as it set the nation on a path toward civil war and the resolution of the issue of slavery. His leadership during the Civil War and his Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate-held territories, are among his most enduring legacies.
