American History · 8th Grade · The Civil War & Reconstruction · Weeks 19-27

The Election of 1860 & Secession

Examine the pivotal election of Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent secession of Southern states.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3: D2.Civ.2.6-8
• C3: D2.His.1.6-8

About This Topic

The Election of 1860 and the subsequent secession of the Southern states represent the final breakdown of the American political system. Students analyze how Abraham Lincoln, representing the newly formed Republican Party, was able to win the presidency without carrying a single Southern state. The curriculum explores the Southern reaction to his victory, which they viewed as a direct threat to their way of life and the institution of slavery.

This topic is the immediate cause of the Civil War. It highlights the concept of 'sectionalism' and the legal arguments used by the South to justify leaving the Union. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation, as they analyze election maps and debate whether the war became 'inevitable' once the results were announced.

Key Questions

1. Explain how Abraham Lincoln won the presidency without Southern electoral votes.
2. Analyze the primary arguments used by Southern states to justify secession.
3. Evaluate whether the Civil War was inevitable after the election of 1860.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the electoral map of 1860 to explain how Abraham Lincoln won the presidency without Southern electoral votes.
• Compare the platforms of the four major candidates in the 1860 election and their impact on sectional divisions.
• Evaluate the primary arguments presented in secession declarations to justify leaving the Union.
• Synthesize information to argue whether the Civil War was inevitable following the Election of 1860.

Before You Start

The Antebellum Period and Growing Tensions

Why: Students need foundational knowledge of the increasing political and social divisions over slavery and states' rights leading up to 1860.

Key Figures and Political Parties of the Mid-19th Century

Why: Familiarity with major political figures like Lincoln and the platforms of parties such as the Democrats and the newly formed Republicans is essential for understanding the election.

Key Vocabulary

Secession	The formal withdrawal of a state from the federal union of the United States. Southern states declared secession following Lincoln's election.
Electoral College	A body of electors established by the United States Constitution, constituted every four years for the sole purpose of electing the president and vice president. Lincoln won the presidency through the Electoral College, despite not winning the popular vote in all regions.
Sectionalism	Loyalty to one's own region or section of the country, rather than to the country as a whole. The Election of 1860 highlighted extreme sectional divisions between the North and South.
Republican Party	A political party formed in the 1850s, primarily in opposition to the expansion of slavery into the western territories. Abraham Lincoln was the Republican candidate in 1860.
States' Rights	The political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government, as interpreted by some during the period leading up to the Civil War. Southern states used this argument to justify secession.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Lincoln ran on a platform to immediately end slavery everywhere.

What to Teach Instead

Lincoln and the Republicans actually ran on a platform to *stop the expansion* of slavery into new territories, not to end it in the South. Peer discussion on 'containment' helps students understand why the South still saw this as a 'death sentence' for their system.

Common Misconception

The South seceded because they hated Lincoln personally.

What to Teach Instead

They seceded because they believed the Republican Party's victory meant they would eventually lose their political power and their 'property' (enslaved people). A 'cause and effect' chart helps students see the deeper systemic fears involved.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The Election Map of 1860

Groups analyze a color-coded map of the election results. They must identify how the vote was split among four candidates and explain how Lincoln's victory proved that the North no longer needed the South to control the presidency.

35 min·Small Groups

Formal Debate: The Right to Secede

Divide the class into 'Unionists' (who argue the Constitution is a permanent bond) and 'Secessionists' (who argue the states joined voluntarily and can leave). They use primary source quotes from Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

40 min·Whole Class

Think-Pair-Share: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Students read excerpts from Lincoln's speech where he promises not to interfere with slavery where it exists but also vows to preserve the Union. They discuss in pairs why this message failed to stop the South from seceding.

25 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Political scientists and historians analyze election data from past presidential contests, such as the 1860 election, to understand shifts in voter demographics and regional political alignments, informing current political strategies.
• Archivists at institutions like the National Archives carefully preserve original secession documents and presidential correspondence, allowing future generations to study the precise language and arguments used during this critical period.
• Civic educators use historical election maps to teach students about the impact of geographic voting patterns on national outcomes, a concept still relevant in understanding modern U.S. elections.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a blank map of the United States in 1860. Ask them to shade states that seceded, label the winner of the popular vote in each region, and write one sentence explaining why Lincoln won without Southern votes.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Was the Civil War inevitable after the Election of 1860?' Facilitate a class debate where students must use evidence from secession declarations and candidate platforms to support their arguments for or against inevitability.

Quick Check

Present students with three short quotes, each representing an argument for secession (e.g., states' rights, protection of slavery, Lincoln's election as a threat). Ask students to identify which argument each quote represents and briefly explain its connection to the Election of 1860.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Lincoln win the election of 1860?

Lincoln won because the Democratic Party was split between Northern and Southern candidates, and a fourth 'Constitutional Union' party also took votes. Because the North had a much larger population and more electoral votes, Lincoln was able to win the presidency by sweeping the Northern states, even though he wasn't even on the ballot in most of the South.

Which state was the first to secede and why?

South Carolina was the first state to secede, just weeks after Lincoln's election. They argued that the 'contract' of the Constitution had been broken by the North's refusal to enforce fugitive slave laws and the election of a president 'hostile to slavery.'

What was the 'Confederate States of America'?

It was the new country formed by the eleven Southern states that seceded from the Union. They wrote their own constitution (which specifically protected slavery) and elected Jefferson Davis as their president, setting up a rival government to the United States.

How can active learning help students understand the election of 1860?

Active learning, such as analyzing the election map or debating the legality of secession, helps students see the 'math' and the 'logic' behind the crisis. When students see that the South was mathematically powerless in the electoral college, their decision to secede, while tragic, becomes a predictable political move. This approach helps students understand the breakdown of democracy when one side feels it can no longer win through the ballot box.