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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
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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 Whig Party Nominee Lewis Cass 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 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 Whig Party Nominee Franklin Pierce 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 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 anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic platform • Democrats endorsed popular sovereignty, state’s rights and accused Republicans of being abolitionists James Buchanan Democratic Party Nominee John C Fremont Republican Party Nominee Millard Fillmore 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 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 John C. Breckinridge Democratic Party Nominee • Nominate John C. Breckinridge • Platform: Want a federal slave code protecting slavery in South and territories; want North to admit slavery is morally acceptable
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."
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 (2nd least in history) and not even appearing on the ballot in the Southern states