#USA Why did Lincoln win the 1860 Election?
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What was the Southern perception of the Northern attitude?
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That North saw them as inferior - despite the South being honourable etc
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What did the Democrats have to do if they wanted to beat the Republicans in 1860?
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unite the divides within the party
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Who was the Democrats best chance of winning the 1860 Presidential election and why?
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Douglas because he was likely to carry some free states (but hated in South because of his opposition to the Lecompton Constitution
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What did events at the April 1860, Charleston (South Carolina) Democrat Convention demonstrate?
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Party was divided - Northerners blocked a proposal that would protect rights of slaveholders in the territories and 50 delegates from Lower South walk out Unable to reach a decision on Candidate - Douglas had support of half but not 2/3 required - agree to meet in Baltimore
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Why was there a mass walkout at the 1860 Baltimore Democrat Convention?
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Douglas supporters (dominated Baltimore convention) preferred to take pro-Douglas candidates from South
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What was the result of the Baltimore Southern mass walkout?
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Douglas nominated as Democrat candidate South form their own convention and nominated VP John Breckenridge on a protect slavery in territories platform
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Why could the Democrat split be bad for Republicans?
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Republicans only need to carry North to win - without having to maintain a united platform Douglas could win votes in the North
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What platform did the May 1860 Republican Convention agree to?
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- higher protective tariffs - free 160 acre homesteads in the West - North transcontinental railway - agreed not to interfere with slavery where it existed
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Who was the favourite to win the 1860 Republican Presidential nomination and what was his flaw?
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William Seward - seen as militant abolitionist despite being pragmatic and anti-extremist - hostile to nativism so hard to win exKnow-Nothing votes
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What things did Lincoln have going for him as the Republican candidate for Presidency?
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- came from Illinois (battleground) - Douglas debates gave good rep - 1859-60 made dozens of speeches across North so known - difficult to attach an ideology so appeared all things to all men - lack of admin xp meant looked honest - convention held in Illinois so could pack out with supporters
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How did Lincoln beat Seward to the 1860 Republican Nomination?
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Secret deals with delegates from Pennsylvania and Indiana Packed the Wigwam with his supporters
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Who were the Constitutional Unionist Party?
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Mainly ex-Whigs - platform of Constitution most support in Upper South - nominated John Bell
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Where we the main fights in the 1860 election?
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North - Douglas and Lincoln South - Bell and Breckerinridge
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What were Douglas and Lincoln's attitude toward the South?
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- Douglas campaigns in South against succession - Lincoln remains at home (but if he appeased South he'd lose North support & his very party existence offended South)
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How did the Republicans Campaign in the North?
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carried wooden rails - demonstrating that Lincoln was a self-made man who once split wood for rails (Trump)
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What was the turnout in November 1860?
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81%
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How well did Lincoln do in the 1860 Election?
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1,866,000 votes - 40% of total Carried every Northern State (apart from New Jersey) so had a majority of 180 to 123 in the electoral college. Breckenridge only won 40% of South vote but even if he won every South State Lincoln - winner
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How well did Douglas do in the 1860 Election?
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1,383,000 votes but only won Missouri and New Jersey
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Why did people vote for Lincoln in 1860?
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1) vote against slave power 2) Democrats party of German and Irish Catholics - anti-Catholics forced to vote Republican 3) Northerners approved of Republican Economic Proposals 4) June 1860 House Investigative Inquiry found widespread Corruption in Buchanan gov - Honest Abe = cool
