Final answer:
The 1860 presidential election featured four main candidates: Abraham Lincoln of the Republican Party, Stephen A. Douglas of the Northern Democratic Party, John C. Breckinridge of the Southern Democratic Party, and John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party. The split in the Democratic Party over slavery and secession allowed Lincoln to win the presidency, which in turn led to the secession of Southern states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1860 Presidential Election and Party Affiliations
The 1860 presidential election was a pivotal event in American history, leading directly to the secession of Southern states and the Civil War. The major candidates and their respective party affiliations were:
- Abraham Lincoln of the Republican Party
- Stephen A. Douglas of the Northern Democratic Party
- John C. Breckinridge of the Southern Democratic Party
- John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party
Due to a split in the Democratic Party over the issue of slavery, two Democratic candidates ran in the election: Stephen A. Douglas, who favored popular sovereignty on the issue, and John C. Breckinridge, who supported slaveholders’ rights. Meanwhile, Lincoln's Republican Party was united in its opposition to the expansion of slavery into the territories. John Bell, representing the Constitutional Union Party, sought to avoid the topic of slavery entirely, hoping to keep the Union together. The division among the Democrats proved advantageous for Abraham Lincoln, who eventually won the presidency.
This election is often studied in light of the significant political developments that led to the American Civil War, reflecting the deep divisions within the country at the time.