Omar Bennett
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and the secession of southern states that followed was influenced by several factors. Southern Democrats feared that Stephen Douglas' support of popular sovereignty—granting voters the right to decide over the issue of slavery—would not be well-received by southern voters. The third-party candidate, John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party, also found support among several states split over the issue of slavery. Southern states were outraged over the election results, and South Carolina voted to repeal its ratification of the Constitution and withdraw from the United States of America. They believed that Lincoln would not protect their rights or sovereignty, and cited the Constitution's protection of slavery as a reason for their secession. The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States by Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas also pointed to the elevation of citizens who were previously incapable of citizenship, and the use of their votes to inaugurate a hostile policy towards the South.
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What You'll Learn
The North's refusal to assist in the return of fugitive slaves
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a significant factor in the North-South divide and the Southern states' eventual secession. The Act, passed by Congress, was a compromise between Southern interests in slavery and Northern Free-Soilers. It required that all captured escaped slaves be returned to their slave owners and that officials and citizens of free states cooperate in this endeavour. This was a highly controversial element of the Compromise of 1850 and served to further polarize the country over the issue of slavery.
The Fugitive Slave Act brought the issue of slavery to the forefront for many Northerners, who now had to actively participate in enforcing slavery. This galvanized Northern sentiments against slavery, and many Northern states refused to enforce the law. The Act contributed to the founding of the Republican Party, which campaigned almost exclusively in the North. The election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, in 1860, was a significant factor in the Southern states' decision to secede.
Southern states viewed the North's refusal to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act as a breach of contract. They believed that the Constitution protected slavery and that the North, by refusing to assist in the return of fugitive slaves, had violated their obligations under the Union. This refusal was seen as a justification for secession.
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The election of Abraham Lincoln
In the mid-1850s, the Republican Party emerged as a major political force, driven by Northern opposition to the expansion of slavery into the territories. By 1860, the Republican Party had become the main opposition to the Democrats, and Lincoln, a former one-term Whig Representative from Illinois, became their presidential candidate. Lincoln and the Republicans campaigned on a platform of restricting the growth of slavery, which was a divisive issue in the country.
The Democratic Party was split between Northern and Southern factions, with Southern Democrats wanting to uphold the constitutional right to own slaves, while Northern Democrats believed in democratic self-government. The Constitutional Union Party, on the other hand, sought to preserve the Union and find a compromise on the issue of slavery. John Bell, their candidate, enjoyed support in states like Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Despite Lincoln's limited support in the South, he won the election with 40% of the popular vote. His victory was due to his strong performance in the free states and the split in the Democratic Party. Lincoln's election sparked outrage in the South, where many saw him as a threat to their way of life. Southerners refused to accept him as their president, and South Carolina led the resistance, passing an ordinance of secession in December 1860. By March 1861, seven Southern states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America.
Lincoln's election and the subsequent secession of Southern states set the stage for the American Civil War, which began in April 1861. The election of 1860 firmly established the Republican Party and highlighted the deep-seated differences between the North and South on the issues of slavery and states' rights. Lincoln's victory, therefore, had far-reaching consequences that shaped the course of American history.
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The North's support of popular sovereignty
The North's support for popular sovereignty was largely driven by their opposition to the expansion of slavery, a key issue in the lead-up to the Civil War. Popular sovereignty, in this context, refers to the idea that the residents of a territory should decide by voting whether or not slavery would be permitted within that territory. This concept was promoted by Northern Democrats like Lewis Cass and Stephen A. Douglas as a middle ground on the issue of slavery, hoping to finesse their position and avoid taking a firm stance.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, proposed by Douglas, applied the principle of popular sovereignty to Kansas, allowing white male inhabitants above the age of 21 to vote on the issue of slavery. This act had two significant consequences. Firstly, it violated the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which prohibited slavery in Kansas. Secondly, it sparked a state-level civil war known as "Bleeding Kansas," as pro- and anti-slavery forces clashed. The violence in Kansas further polarised the country along sectional fault lines, with the new Republican Party, formed in the aftermath of the act, becoming a predominantly northern organisation committed to preventing the spread of slavery.
The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 further highlighted the divide, with Lincoln's firm stance against the expansion of slavery alienating Southern pro-slavery Democrats, who viewed Douglas as weak in his support of slavery. The Lecompton Constitution fiasco in 1858, where pro-slavery forces attempted to establish a pro-slavery constitution in Kansas, reinforced northern leaders' determination to resist the expansion of slavery.
The concept of popular sovereignty, as applied to the issue of slavery, was not without its complexities and criticisms. Southerners argued that territorial legislatures should not have the power to prohibit slavery, asserting their right to bring their slave property wherever they chose. Additionally, the interpretation of popular sovereignty was a subject of debate, with some versions implying that citizens of a territory could decide on the slavery issue before applying for statehood, while others saw it as a means to uphold democracy and allow local decision-making.
In conclusion, the North's support for popular sovereignty was driven by their opposition to slavery's expansion and their desire to uphold the principle of democratic decision-making. While it created tensions and contributed to the polarisation of the country, popular sovereignty reflected the North's attempt to address the contentious issue of slavery while empowering local communities to determine their own laws and governance.
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The North's encouragement of lawless organisations stealing slaves
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was a significant factor in the Southern states' decision to secede from the Union and vote against the Constitution. The Southern states were outraged by the election results, as Lincoln was not on many Southern ballots, and they believed that he would not protect their rights, particularly regarding slavery.
In the lead-up to the election, the Republican Party, led by Lincoln, campaigned almost exclusively in the North, with limited efforts in border states. This contributed to a perception of regional favouritism, which would later influence the South's decision to secede.
The issue of slavery was a complex and deeply divisive one in American society at the time. While the North had taken steps towards abolition, it is important to note that the process was gradual and incomplete. Northern states had abolished slavery by 1830, but the impact of slavery and the slave trade extended beyond the legal status of enslaved people. The North had significant economic ties to slavery, with many industries dependent on slave labour and slave-made products. Additionally, the North's refusal to assist in the return of fugitive slaves was seen as a breach of contract, further straining relations with the South.
The South's economic interests were closely tied to the continuation of slavery, and they viewed the North's actions as a direct threat to their way of life. The election of Lincoln, who was perceived to support popular sovereignty over slavery, was the final straw for the South, leading them to vote against the Constitution and secede from the Union.
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The North's refusal to deliver parties implicated in murdering Southern citizens
The Southern states' vote against the Constitution was influenced by a combination of factors, including disputes over slavery, states' rights, and economic interests. One of the primary reasons for the South's opposition was their defence of slavery, which was protected by the Constitution. The election of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party in 1860 caused outrage in the South. Southern Democrats feared that Lincoln's support of popular sovereignty, which granted voters the right to decide over the issue of slavery, threatened the expansion of slavery in the West.
The Southern states believed that the Northern states had breached their contract by refusing to assist in the return of fugitive slaves, thereby releasing the South from their obligation to the Union. They also pointed to the Declaration of Independence, asserting their right to abolish a government that did not protect their rights, including the right to own slaves.
In the lead-up to the Civil War, there were accusations of lawless organisations stealing slaves and murdering Southern citizens. The governors of several Northern states were accused of refusing to deliver parties implicated and indicted for participating in these crimes. This refusal to hold accountable those who invaded Southern soil and murdered citizens contributed to the growing tensions between the North and the South, ultimately leading to the South's vote against the Constitution and their secession from the Union.
The refusal to deliver implicated parties was part of a broader context of disputes over slavery and states' rights. The Southern states felt that their representation in the federal congress was weakened, and they believed that the Northern states were disregarding their oaths and trampling on Southern rights. The issue of slavery was a central point of contention, with the South seeking to protect their slave-holding rights and the North, or at least a portion of it, moving towards abolition.
The Constitutional Union Party, formed by Northerners and Southerners, sought to preserve the Union by upholding the U.S. Constitution. However, the election of Lincoln, who was perceived to be a threat to Southern interests, exacerbated the divide between the North and the South. The Southern states felt that their way of life and economic interests were under attack, and they saw secession as a means to protect their rights and sovereignty.
While the refusal to deliver implicated parties was a contributing factor, the overarching conflict between the North and the South was complex and multi-faceted, involving ideological, political, and economic differences that ultimately led to the nation's deadliest war.
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Frequently asked questions
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.
Lincoln was not on many Southern ballots because there was no Southern Republican Party. Southern Democrats also feared that Lincoln's running mate, Stephen Douglas, would not be received well by Southern voters due to his support of popular sovereignty, which granted voters the right to decide over the issue of slavery.
The South believed that the Constitution protected slavery. They also believed that Lincoln, once inaugurated, would not protect their rights or sovereignty. The North had refused to assist in the return of fugitive slaves, and the South believed this breached their contract with the Union.
