Meet the Candidates
http://civilwardailygazette.com/2010/11/05/presidential-electionof-1860-know-your-candidates/
Republican
National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois, May 16-18, 1860
Presidential: Abraham Lincoln, former Representative from Illinois
Vice-Presidential: Hannibal Hamlin, Former governor and current Senator
from Maine.
Biography: Lincoln was a former Whig, a member of the House of
Representatives from 1847 – 1849 where he opposed the Mexican War. He
held a law practice in Springfield, Illinois after leaving office. He ran for
United States Senate on the Republican ticket in 1858, against incumbent
Stephen Douglas, taking part in the now famous “Lincoln-Douglas Debates.”
He lost the election, but gained national recognition.
Slavery: Opposed the spread of slavery in any form to the new territories.
Democrat (Northern)
National Convention held in Charleston, South Carolina on April 23, 1860,
then again in Baltimore, Maryland on June 18, 1860
Presidential: Stephen Douglas, Senator from Illinois
Vice-Presidential: Herschel Vespasian Johnson, (after Benjamin Fitzpatrick,
Senator from Alabama, declined) Former Governor of Georgia
Biography: Douglas held United States Senate seat since 1847, supporting
both the expansion of the United States to include the entire continent and the
Mexican War. In 1858, he was opposed by Lincoln. The two held seven
nationally-covered debates across the state of Illinois. Douglas retained the
seat.
Slavery: Wanted the people of the territories to be able to decide for
themselves whether or not they wanted slavery.Constitutional Union
Constitutional Union
National Convention held in Baltimore on May 9, 1860
Presidential: John Bell, former Senator from Tennessee
Vice-Presidential: Edward Everett, former Senator and Gov of
Massachesettes, former Secretary of State.
Biography: Bell began his career first a democrat and then a Whig, was a
member of the House of Representatives, Secretary of State, and Senator
from Tennessee. Voted against the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Slavery: As per party line, would not state whether for or against the spread
of slavery – only wanted to keep the Union intact.
Democrat (Southern)
Convention held in Baltimore on June 18, 1860 after split with main
Democrat Party
Presidential: John Breckinridge, Vice President of the US, from Kentucky
Vice-Presidential: Joseph Lane, Senator from Oregon
Biography: Democratic member of the House of Representatives, became
President Buchanan’s Vice- President, the youngest to hold the office, at age
35. He was nominated for president by the Southern Democrats, having split
from the main Democrat Party. Endorsed by President Buchanan.
Slavery: Wished to ensure that slaveholders could own slaves in new
territories.
Election of 1860 Campaign Poster
Directions:
1.
You are going to create a campaign poster for Lincoln. You will need to open
a Word or Pages document. Please be creative and use color. If you need to
research campaign posters, Google a picture or two. Once done with
Lincoln's campaign poster, scroll down to a new page, there write the other
candidates name in bold, then underneath their name place a picture of them,
their party, where they are from, and views on slavery (ex. Party: Democrat)
2.
Read the biography of your candidate.
3.
Your poster must include:
a.
A picture of your candidate (yes you need to draw)
b.
A slogan for your candidate (something to show your candidate’s beliefs)
c.
His views on slavery
d.
His views on Southern secession
e.
One political backer (the name of an actual person who would publicly support your candidate)
f.
His political party