Election of 1860

• The Southern fire-eaters threatened to secede if the Republicans won the election

Democrats

• The Democrats divided:• Southern Democrats nominated John C.

Breckinridge

John C. Breckinridge

• Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas

Stephen Douglas

Republicans

• Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Constitutional Union Party

• Constitutional Union Party nominated John Bell

John Bell

LINCOLN WON!!

• Southerners felt that the states had voluntarily joined the Union and could therefore, voluntarily leave it.

• South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860

• Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas seceded next.

• They formed the Confederate States of America

• Jefferson Davis was elected as president of the Confederacy.

• Alexander Stephens was the vice-president.

Jefferson Davis

Alexander Stephens