Student Article

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 marked a turning point in American history and set the stage for the Civil War. The country had long been divided over the issue of slavery. While the North increasingly opposed its expansion, the Southern economy remained deeply dependent on enslaved labor. Tensions worsened as the U.S. grew westward and new territories had to decide whether to allow slavery.

Lincoln’s election and Southern fears

Lincoln ran as the candidate for the Republican Party, a new political coalition united by its opposition to the expansion of slavery. Though not an outright abolitionist, Lincoln was clear in his belief that slavery should be put "on the course of ultimate extinction." He won the presidency with only about 40% of the popular vote, mostly from Northern states, and wasn’t even listed on the ballot in most of the South.

Southern states secede

Southern leaders saw his victory as a direct threat to their way of life. Within weeks, South Carolina declared its secession from the Union, and six other states soon followed. These states formed the Confederate States of America. Outgoing President James Buchanan lacked the will to prevent the crisis, leaving Lincoln to inherit a deeply fractured nation.

The start of the Civil War

Despite claims that the Democratic Party’s split handed Lincoln the election, he likely would have won regardless due to strong support in the populous free states. His victory demonstrated the growing divide between North and South and triggered the chain of events that led to the Civil War — a war over slavery, federal authority, and the future of the United States.

© Richard Carwardine / www.historyextra.com