U S Presidential Elections 1848 1860 A Nation

U. S. Presidential Elections, 1848 -1860 A Nation Dividing

Election of 1848 Major issue: Whether land acquired from Mexico should be free or slave Whigs nominate Taylor, war hero from Mexican War & slave holder Democrats nominate Cass (Jackson’s former Secretary of War)believed each territory should decide whether to be slave or free Zachary Taylor Lewis Cass Whig Party Nominee Democratic Party Nominee

Results Part of the Democratic Party broke away and formed the Free Soil Party that opposed any extension to slavery Took votes away from Democrats, allowing the Whigs to win Victory is national, carrying both North and South states

Election of 1848

Election of 1852 Major Issue- Compromise of 1850 (California would be admitted as a free state in return for stronger Fugitive Slave Act) Pierce supported the Compromise Scott had a reputation for being anti-slavery and anti-immigrant Winfield Scott Franklin Pierce Whig Party Nominee Democratic Party Nominee

Results Irish and German immigrants did not vote for Scott Other Whigs upset over decision not to nominate Millard Fillmore, the incumbent President Pierce wins in a landslide, winning the only popular vote majority between 1840 -1860

Election of 1852

Election of 1856 Major Issue: Kansas. Nebraska Act- the less each candidate had to do with it the better Republicans ran for the first time, opposing the extension of slavery Know Nothing / American Party ran on an antiimmigrant, anti-Catholic platform Democrats endorsed popular sovereignty, state’s rights and accused Republicans of being abolitionists James Buchanan John C Fremont Millard Fillmore Democratic Party Nominee Republican Party Nominee Know Nothing Party Nominee

Results Election a contest of the Democrats vs. Republicans in North & Know Nothings in South Split in votes, plus Democrats claim the South would secede if Republicans won, paved way for Democratic victory

Election of 1856

Election of 1860 - The Republicans One of most important election in U. S. History Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln Platform: No expansion of slavery; protection of slavery in South; tariffs to protect Northern manufacturers; federal spending on railways; free homesteads

Election of 1860 - The Democrats Nominate Stephen A. Douglas Platform: Endorse popular sovereignty; acceptance of any Supreme Court Decision regarding slavery Southern Democrats believed this was not enough and left the party Stephen A. Douglas, Democratic Nominee

Election of 1860 The Southern Democrats Nominate John C. Breckinridge Platform: Want a federal slave code protecting slavery in South and territories; want North to admit slavery is morally acceptable John C. Breckinridge Democratic Party Nominee

Election of 1860 The Constitutional Union Party Nominate John Bell, a slave holder with moderate views Accuse other parties of dividing country by only appealing to certain sections Platform: "to recognize no political principle other than the Constitution. . . the Union. . . and the Enforcement of the Laws. "

The Campaign

The Campaign

The Campaign

The Campaign

The Campaign

Results Republicans win every free state except New Jersey Vote in the slave states is split between Democrats, Southern Democrats and Constitutional Union Party Republicans win a majority of the electoral college vote despite only getting 40% of the popular vote (2 nd least in history) and not even appearing on the ballot in the Southern states

Election of 1860