who was lincolns vice president in the election of 1860

Who ran against Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election?

Last Updated: Oct 30, 2018 See Article History. United States presidential election of 1860, American presidential election held on Nov. 6, 1860, in which Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, and Constitutional Union candidate John Bell.

Who was the vice president during the election of 1860?

With President Buchanan's support, Southern Democrats held their own convention, nominating Vice President John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. The 1860 Constitutional Union Convention nominated a ticket led by former Tennessee Senator John Bell .

Who were the candidates for president in the 1860 election?

There were four major candidates for president in the 1860 election. Abraham Lincoln received the Republican nomination on May 16th. John Bell had already been nominated as the presidential candidate for the Constitutional Union Party, a new party whose only platform was the Constitution of the United States.

Who was Abraham Lincoln's Vice-President?

On Tuesday, November 6th, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the sixteenth President of the United States, with Hannibal Hamlin of Maine his Vice-President.

Who was Abraham Lincoln's vice president?

Hannibal Hamlin1861–1865Andrew Johnson1865Abraham Lincoln/Vice presidents

How many vice presidents did Abraham Lincoln have?

Abraham Lincoln had two vice presidents because he was elected to two terms of office.

Who was Lincoln's vice president in the election of 1864?

Rather than re-nominate Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, the convention selected Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, a War Democrat, as Lincoln's running mate.

Who became vice president when Ford became President?

Ford's accession to the presidency left the office of vice president vacant. On August 20, 1974, Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller, the leader of the party's liberal wing, for the vice presidency.

Why did Lincoln win the election of 1860?

Lincoln won the Electoral College with less than 40 percent of the popular vote nationwide by carrying states above the Mason–Dixon line and north of the Ohio River, plus the states of California and Oregon in the Far West. Unlike every preceding president-elect, Lincoln did not carry even one slave state.

Why was Andrew Johnson Lincoln's VP?

In 1862, Lincoln appointed him as Military Governor of Tennessee after most of it had been retaken. In 1864, Johnson was a logical choice as running mate for Lincoln, who wished to send a message of national unity in his re-election campaign; and became vice president after a victorious election in 1864.

Who was Seward to Lincoln?

William Henry Seward was appointed Secretary of State by Abraham Lincoln on March 5, 1861, and served until March 4, 1869. Seward carefully managed international affairs during the Civil War and also negotiated the 1867 purchase of Alaska. Seward was born in Florida, New York on May 16, 1801.

What did Andrew Jackson do?

Andrew Jackson was the first to be elected president by appealing to the mass of voters rather than the party elite. He established the principle that states may not disregard federal law. However, he also signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to the Trail of Tears.

What are 3 interesting facts about Abraham Lincoln?

➢ At 6 foot, 4 inches, Abraham Lincoln was the tallest president. ➢ Lincoln was the first president to be born outside of the original thirteen colonies. ➢ Lincoln was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration. John Wilkes Booth (his assassin) can be seen standing close to Lincoln in the picture.

Why did FDR change vice presidents?

The fundamental issue was that Roosevelt's health was seriously declining, and everyone who saw Roosevelt, including the leaders of the Democratic Party, realized it. If he died during his next term, the vice president would become president, making the vice presidential nomination very important.

Did Lincoln choose his vice president?

In 1864, Johnson was a logical choice as running mate for Lincoln, who wished to send a message of national unity in his re-election campaign; and became vice president after a victorious election in 1864.

How many VPS have there been?

There have been 49 vice presidents of the United States since the office came into existence in 1789.

Who were the candidates in the United States presidential election of 1860?

Abraham Lincoln of Illinois was the candidate of the generally antislavery Republican Party. The Democratic Party split in two. Sen. Stephen A. Dou...

Why was the U.S. presidential election of 1860 important?

Nothing less than the fate of the Union was at stake in the U.S. presidential election of 1860. The Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision of 1857, wh...

What was the outcome of the U.S. presidential election of 1860?

RepublicanAbraham Lincoln captured less than 40 percent of the vote but won a majority in the electoral college (180 electoral votes) by dominating...

What was the “Team of Rivals”?

Abraham Lincoln’s chief competitors for the nomination as the presidential candidate of the Republican Party in 1860 were front-runner William H. S...

Who were the three candidates in the 1860 election?

Cartoon of the 1860 U.S. presidential election showing three of the candidates— (left to right) Republican Abraham Lincoln, Northern Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, and Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge —tearing the country apart while the Constitutional Union candidate, John Bell, applies glue from a tiny useless pot.

Who was Abraham Lincoln's secretary of state?

Learn more about Lincoln before and after his election in the Abraham Lincoln article. William H. Seward. Learn more about William Seward, Lincoln’s secretary of state, who would later spearhead the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

What was the name of the lithograph that was used to promote Abraham Lincoln's campaign?

1860 presidential campaign. “The Undecided Political Prize Fight,” a lithograph depicting the presidential campaign of 1860 and featuring Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-USZ62-7877) Flag banner promoting Abraham Lincoln for the presidency in 1860.

What was the purpose of the 1860 election?

territories, the election of 1860 was sure to further expose sectional differences between those, especially (but not solely) in the North, who wanted to abolish slavery and those who sought to protect the institution . The Democratic Party held its convention in April–May 1860 in Charleston, S.C., where a disagreement over the official party policy on slavery prompted dozens of delegates from Southern states to withdraw. Unable to nominate a candidate (Sen. Stephen A. Douglas received a majority of the delegates’ support but could not amass the required two-thirds majority needed for nomination), Democrats held a second convention in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 18–23, though many of the Southern delegates failed to attend. At Baltimore the Democrats nominated Douglas, who easily defeated Kentuckian John C. Breckinridge, the sitting vice president of the United States. Trying to unite Northern and Southern Democrats, the convention then turned for vice president first to Sen. Benjamin Fitzpatrick of Alabama, who declined nomination, and eventually to Herschel V. Johnson, a former U.S. senator and former governor of Georgia, who was chosen as Douglas’s running mate. Disaffected Democrats, largely Southerners, then nominated Breckinridge, with Sen. Joseph Lane of Oregon as his running mate. Both Douglas and Breckinridge claimed to be the official Democratic candidates.

How many electoral votes did Lincoln get?

On election day Lincoln captured slightly less than 40 percent of the vote, but he won a majority in the electoral college, with 180 electoral votes, by sweeping the North (with the exception of New Jersey, which he split with Douglas) and also winning the Pacific Coast states of California and Oregon.

What was the first critical election in the United States?

The 1860 election is regarded by most political observers as the first of three “critical” elections in the United States—contests that produced sharp and enduring changes in party loyalties across the country (although some analysts consider the election of 1824 to have been the first critical election).

Where did the Democratic Party hold its convention?

The Democratic Party held its convention in April–May 1860 in Charleston, S.C., where a disagreement over the official party policy on slavery prompted dozens of delegates from Southern states to withdraw.

What was the main issue in the 1860 election?

The main issue of the election was slavery and states’ rights. Lincoln emerged victorious and became the 16th President of the United States during a national crisis that would tear states and families apart and test Lincoln’s leadership and resolve: The Civil War.

What did the Southern Democrats feel about the rights of states?

States’ rights were also hotly debated. Southern Democrats felt states had the right to govern themselves while Northern Democrats supported the Union and a national government. With such confusion among the ranks, it was unclear how the Democratic Party would ever nominate a candidate for the 1860 election.

How many votes did Lincoln get in 1860?

Lincoln won the election in an electoral college landslide with 180 electoral votes, although he secured less than 40 percent of the popular vote.

What did Bell want to do to compromise on slavery?

Still, Bell wanted to offer a compromise on the topic of slavery by extending the Missouri Compromise line across the United States and make slavery legal in new states to the south of the line and illegal in new states north of the line.

Why did the Democratic Party split in 1860?

Democrats Split Over Slavery. The Democratic Party was in shambles in 1860. They should have been the party of unity, but instead were divided on the issue of slavery. Southern Democrats thought slavery should be expanded but Northern Democrats opposed the idea. States’ rights were also hotly debated.

What party was Abraham Lincoln in?

While he lost that election, two years later, he was elected to the state legislature as a member of the Whig party , where he publicly announced his disdain for slavery.

Why did Douglas campaign in the North and South?

Douglas campaigned in the North and South to hopefully make up for the divided voter base in the South, and gave a series of campaign speeches in favor of the Union.

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Union Party?

A group of former Whigs and Know Nothings formed the Constitutional Union Party, which sought to avoid disunion by resolving divisions over slavery with some new compromise. The 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago nominated Lincoln, a moderate former one-term Whig Representative from Illinois.

What was the significance of the 1860 election?

The election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1860, and was noteworthy for the exaggerated sectionalism and voter enthusiasm in a country that was soon to dissolve into civil war.

What was the significance of the election of 1861?

by Electoral College vote. The election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1860, and was noteworthy for the exaggerated sectionalism and voter enthusiasm in a country that was soon to dissolve into civil war.

What was the first successful national ticket that did not feature a Southerner?

The 1860 Republican ticket was the first successful national ticket that did not feature a Southerner, and the election marked the end of Southern political dominance in the United States.

What was the People's Party?

The People's Party was a loose association of the supporters of Governor Samuel Houston. On April 20, 1860, the party held what it termed a national convention to nominate Houston for president on the San Jacinto Battlefield in Texas. Houston's supporters at the gathering did not nominate a vice-presidential candidate, since they expected later gatherings to carry out that function. Later mass meetings were held in northern cities, such as New York City on May 30, 1860, but they too failed to nominate a vice-presidential candidate. Houston, never enthusiastic about running for the Presidency, soon became convinced that he had no chance of winning and that his candidacy would only make it easier for the Republican candidate to win. He withdrew from the race on August 16, and urged the formation of a Unified "Union" ticket in opposition to Lincoln.

What was the Liberty Party?

Liberty Party (Radical Abolitionists, Union) candidates gallery. By 1860, very little remained of the Liberty Party, after most of its membership left to join the Free Soil Party in 1848 and nearly all of what remained of it joined the Republicans in 1854. The remaining party was also called the Radical Abolitionists.

Where was the abolitionist convention held?

The remaining party was also called the Radical Abolitionists. A convention of one hundred delegates was held in Convention Hall, Syracuse, New York, on August 29, 1860. Delegates were in attendance from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Massachusetts.

How many electoral votes did Lincoln and Hamlin get?

Lincoln and Hamlin received 1,866,452 popular votes and 180 electoral votes in 17 of the 33 states. The Northern Democratic ticket of Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson of Georgia drew 1,376,957 popular votes, but only 12 electoral votes (9 from Missouri and 3 from New Jersey).

What was the first Republican president elected?

Election of Lincoln. The election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860 is commonly viewed as the beginning of a chain of events that erupted into civil war in April 1861. Lincoln was the first member of the Republican Party elected to the presidency, a remarkable rise for a political party that had been in existence less than ten years.

When did South Carolina dissolve the Union?

On November 10th, the legislature agreed to meet on December 17th to consider the question of secession. On December 20th, 1860, South Carolina dissolved the Union when its legislature voted to secede.

Who was Lincoln's Republican opponent?

At the Republican Convention held in Chicago in 1860, Lincoln received his party’s nomination over several contenders, most notably William H. Seward of New York. Contrary to popular belief, Lincoln was not a backwoods farmer; rather, he was a respected lawyer from Illinois who had gained the national spotlight during his campaign for ...

What were the major issues in the 1860 election?

Key Takeaways: The Election of 1860 1 The United States was in crisis, and it was inevitable that the election of 1860 would be focused on the issue of enslavement. 2 Abraham Lincoln began the year in relative obscurity, but a speech in New York City in February helped make him a credible candidate. 3 Lincoln's greatest rival for the Republican Party's nomination, William Seward, was out-maneuvered at the party's nominating convention. 4 Lincoln won the election by running against three opponents, and his victory in November prompted southern states to begin leaving the Union.

What was the most significant election in American history?

Updated December 01, 2018. The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 was perhaps the most significant election in American history. It brought Lincoln to power at a time of great national crisis, as the country was coming apart over the issue of enslavement. The electoral win by Lincoln, the candidate of the anti-enslavement Republican ...

Why was the 1860 election important?

The 1860 election proved to be one of the most momentous in American history as it came at a time of national crisis, and brought Abraham Lincoln, with his known anti-enslavement views, to the White House. Indeed, Lincoln’s trip to Washington was literally fraught with trouble, ...

What party did Abraham Lincoln belong to?

The electoral win by Lincoln, the candidate of the anti-enslavement Republican Party, prompted the states of the American South to begin serious discussions about secession. In the months between Lincoln's election and his inauguration in March 1861 these states began seceding.

What was the Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854?

And the passage of the of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 became a turning point in Lincoln's life. Following the passage of the controversial legislation, Abraham Lincoln, who had essentially given up on politics after one unhappy term in Congress in the late 1840s, felt compelled to return to the political arena.

Where did Abraham Lincoln give his speech?

In late 1859, Lincoln was invited to give a speech in New York City. He crafted an address denouncing enslavement and its spread, which he delivered at the Cooper Union in Manhattan. The speech was a triumph and made Lincoln an overnight political star in New York City.

When did Abraham Lincoln seek the Republican nomination?

Lincoln Sought the Republican Nomination in 1860. Lincoln’s ambition to become undisputed leader of the Republicans in Illinois began to evolve into a desire to run for the Republican nomination for president. The first step was to gain the support of the Illinois delegation at the state Republican convention in Decatur in early May 1860 .

Early Career

Imagine being vice president of the United States at the age of 36. It would seem your potential was unlimited -- unlimited unless you tried to reconcile the two opposing political positions of slavery and the Union. Unfortunately, that is the tragedy of John C. Breckinridge's story.

Vice President of the United States

Because of his centrist position, Breckinridge became a very attractive candidate for the Democratic Party in 1856. He was courted by the major candidates for the presidency: Franklin Pierce, the incumbent; Senator Stephen A. Douglas; and James Buchanan, the former minister to England.

Election of 1860

Buchanan was not a viable candidate for president in 1860 because of his inability to achieve a resolution of the slavery issue. The Democratic Party was fractured into Northern and Southern camps. The Northern camp wanted a popular sovereignty plank in the party platform. In short, its followers believed the people of each U.S.

What is the Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition?

This exhibition commemorates the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of the nation’s revered sixteenth president. The Run for President section contains manuscripts, prints, and other items from the 1860 presidential election.

How many documents are in the Lincoln papers?

The complete Abraham Lincoln Papers from the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress consist of approximately 20,000 documents. Search the Lincoln Papers to find hundreds of items related to the 1860 presidential election.

What is pictorial Americana?

Pictorial Americana: Selected Images from the Collections of the Library of Congress. Pictorial Americana, a Library of Congress publication , contains a chapter listing selected images related to the 1860 presidential election.

When was the electoral college counted?

This collection consists of published congressional records of the United States of America from 1774 to 1875. On February 13, 1861, the electoral college votes for the presidential election of 1860 were counted by a joint session of Congress and reported in the Congressional Globe and the Senate Journal.

Who is the Lincolniana collection?

The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana. Alfred Whital Stern (1881-1960) of Chicago presented his outstanding collection of Lincolniana to the Library of Congress in 1953. This online release presents more than 1,300 items with more than 4,000 images and a date range of 1824-1931.

Who presented Lincolniana to the Library of Congress?

A selection of highlights from this collection includes: George Ashmun, et al. to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, May 18, 1860 (Notification of nomination) Alfred Whital Stern (1881-1960) of Chicago presented his outstanding collection of Lincolniana to the Library of Congress in 1953.

When was the Republican platform adopted?

A reprint of the original broadside containing the Republican Platform of 1860, adopted by the National Republican Convention held in Chicago, May 17, 1860. Chicago, 1860. Republican ticket. For President Abraham Lincoln of Illinois.

Candidates for President in 1860

There were four major candidates for president in the 1860 election. Abraham Lincoln received the Republican nomination on May 16th.

Issues and Outcome

While the platforms of the various parties competing for the presidency in 1860 discussed issues such as a national tariff, the Homestead Act, and a transcontinental railroad, the main issue dominating the campaign was slavery. The Democratic Party split over the issue of slavery.

Overview

See more on worldatlas.com

Nominations

Political considerations

Results

Trigger for the Civil War

The 1860 United States presidential election was the 19th quadrennial presidential election, held on November 6, 1860. In a four-way contest, the Republican Party ticket of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, absent from the ballot in ten slave states, won a national popular plurality, a popular majority in the North where states already had abolished slavery, and a national electoral majority comprising only Northern electoral votes. Lincoln's election thus served as the main cat…

See also

Bibliography

External links