The country was divided over slavery by mid 19th century.
Ken Burns: The Civil War, "The Cause" |
"The repeal, in 1854, of the Missouri Compromise, which had 'kept a lid on slavery,' followed by the Dred Scott decision, brought slavery to the political forefront, forcing the country to address its future - sharply dividing advocates and opponents..." |
Historical Context of ElectionPresident James Buchanan decided not to seek reelection in 1860, leaving Senator Stephen Douglas as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Douglas had just won a close battle in Illinois with Abraham Lincoln for his Senate seat in 1858. This was a "bad win" for Douglas and a "good loss" for Lincoln, since he became a much bigger player in state and national Republican politics.
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Robert Marshall Root painting of Charlestown Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Image from Encyclopedia Britannica |
"To describe national politics after the Lincoln-Douglas election of 1858 as in a state of flux would be an |
Image from Library of Congress
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Slavery dangerously divided the nation. The Compromise of 1850 had delayed Southern secession and put the question of the future of slavery on hold. The 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, written by Douglas, angered Northerners because it nullified the Missouri Compromise which blocked slavery in Kansas, by opening it and Nebraska up to popular sovereignty. This act led to violent conflict within Kansas, with freesoilers and pro-slavery Southerners flooding Kansas to influence the vote. Uncle Tom's Cabin, the Dred Scott decision, and John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry increased tensions.
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