Election
The Democrats met in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 1860. This was to select their next president but this ended in turmoil. The Northern Democrats thought that Stephen Douglas had the best chance at winning against the "Black Republicans." Southern Democrats felt that Douglas was a traitor because he supported popular sovereignty, so intern they refused to choose a candidate that day. Then, SIX weeks later, the North got together nominated Stephen Douglas, while the South got together and nominated Vice President John C. Breckenridge.
A number of aging politicians and distinguished citizens, calling themselves the Constitutional Union Party nominated John Bell of Tennessee, a wealthy slaveholder as their candidate for President. These people were for moderation. They decided that the best way out of the present difficulties that faced the nation was to take no stand at all on the issues that divided the north and the south. The campaign of 1860 accurately registered the country's precarious condition after a decade of sectional turmoil. The leading political organization in the North was the Republican party. It was composed of former Whigs, a smaller number of ex-Democrats, as well as members of other parties, including some who had previously supported antislavery parties, such as the Liberty party, which had sought to end slavery by political means. Like any party, the Republican party contained a broad spectrum of opinions on many issues, including slavery. But most Republicans were, like Lincoln, moderates who were positioned between the more radical and conservative elements of their party.
A number of aging politicians and distinguished citizens, calling themselves the Constitutional Union Party nominated John Bell of Tennessee, a wealthy slaveholder as their candidate for President. These people were for moderation. They decided that the best way out of the present difficulties that faced the nation was to take no stand at all on the issues that divided the north and the south. The campaign of 1860 accurately registered the country's precarious condition after a decade of sectional turmoil. The leading political organization in the North was the Republican party. It was composed of former Whigs, a smaller number of ex-Democrats, as well as members of other parties, including some who had previously supported antislavery parties, such as the Liberty party, which had sought to end slavery by political means. Like any party, the Republican party contained a broad spectrum of opinions on many issues, including slavery. But most Republicans were, like Lincoln, moderates who were positioned between the more radical and conservative elements of their party.