ELECTION Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the newly formed Republican Party. Many Americans considered him to be against slavery. The Democratic Party was bitterly divided over the issue of slavery. Northern Democrats chose Stephen Douglas, who believed states should be free to make their own decisions of slavery. Southern Democrats were angry that Douglas would not endorse slavery. Lincoln won the election in 1860, even though he was not even on the ballot in ten of the Southern states. Disagreements between the North and South had smoldered for many years, but Lincoln's victory became the spark that ignited the Civil War. SECESSION

Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 was a turning point in U.S. history, but did you know that the seeds of secession were sown long before? The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850 were earlier attempts to balance the power between free and slave states. However, tensions boiled over, and when Lincoln won, seven Southern states swiftly seceded, forming the Confederate States of America, laying the groundwork for a conflict that would reshape the nation. Secession was a dramatic step, and in many ways, it was the ultimate act of defiance against the federal government. Interestingly, the act also sparked a wider conversation about states' rights, a hotbed issue that continues to resonate today. Many Southern leaders thought they were protecting their way of life, but this decision resulted in a brutal conflict. It's fascinating how a single election could drastically change the course of a nation’s history and lead to debates still relevant in modern politics!