Election 1860

Do Now SWBAT analyze the election of 1860 through political

cartoons.

Do Now: (in complete sentences) Why is it important to understand other people’s perspectives (point of view)? How does perspective change the way that people interact with others? How can it lead to conflict or compromise?

Yesterday’s Exit Ticket1. What is sectionalism?

2. Southern dependence on slavery and an agricultural economy resulted in -

a. an excellent railroad system

b. a lack of factories

c. a dependence on government tax breaks

d. several new political parties

3. Which region would have said this: Why does the federal (central) government keep trying to get in the way of everything? What we want in the states is way more important than something the national government wants.

4. What is popular sovereignty?

5. Some fugitive slaves fled to Canada rather than staying in northern states because runaway slaves — 

a. had fewer economic opportunities in Canada

b. were needed to help populate rural areas in Canada

c. could travel quickly up the Mississippi River to Quebec

d. they could be captured in the North and returned to the South

Tie it together with… Brainpop!

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/civilwarcauses/

Election 1860 Political platform: what a presidential candidate

believes in and what they plan on doing before they become president

The Republican Party was created in 1854 in response to the expansion of slavery from the Kansas-Nebraska Act

Four candidates ran in the election: Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, John Bell, and Breckinridge

And the winner is… Spoiler alert! Lincoln wins the election the south

gets concerned that the federal government will take away slavery

Secede: to formally take away membership from a political group

South Carolina secedes from the Union (other parts of the USA) in 1861

Lincoln opposes secession because he thinks that if one starts to secede, then the others states leave if they don’t like any federal laws

Do you know this man? Name: Abraham Lincoln

Party: Republicans

Physical feature: Very tall!

Platform: Slavery will not be allowed to spread any further. I also promise that tariffs protecting industry and factories in the North will be imposed. I promise a law granting FREE farm land in the West to settlers.

Do you know this man?

 Name: Stephen Douglas

Party: Northern Democrats

Physical feature: Short!

Platform: I’m moderate! I think we should stick with popular sovereignty and let the states decide for themselves if they want slavery or not.

Do you know this man? Name: John Breckenridge

Party: Southern Democrats

Physical feature: Crazy eyes, crazy hair

Platform: We should have slavery everywhere, in all the territories! Everyone moving west should farm and have slaves! We can make more money that way!

Do you know this man? Name: John Bell

Party: Constitutional Union

Physical feature: His head looks kind of like a bell…

Platform: Why can’t we all just get along? If I become President, everyone is going to compromise! Our slogan is, “The Union as it is and the Constitution as it is.”

Analyze the map:

Who won which areas?

Why do you think it was a problem that there were four candidates instead of two? Will there be a clear majority?

Analyze political cartoons

Look at who is involved in the picture: why did they involve those people in the photo

Look at what is actually in the picture (actions, thought bubbles, etc)

What is the author trying to say?

Create your own political cartoon

Include all four characters (stick figures are fine). It must show something about the election – a disagreement, fight, a race and what each person would be saying at that moment.

If you finish early, let Ms. Riordan know so she can give you a primary document to analyze.

Exit Ticket1. Why was the Republican Party

created?

2. Which of these was not an issue in the 1860 presidential election?

A. slavery

B. state’s rights

C. they way the Constitution was interpreted

D. stopping immigrants from Mexico

3. Who won the election of 1860?

4. What does secede mean?

5. What event happened after the winner of 1860 was given his presidency?

A. Southern states secede

B. the president was assassinated

C. they created the position of vice-president for the loser

D. all slaves were set free