Election of 1860: A Nation, Torn

The 1860 U.S. presidential election was pivotal, with slavery as a central issue. The Lincoln-Douglas debates highlighted the national divide. Lincoln's election led to Southern secession, sparking the Civil War. The conflict eventually required constitutional amendments to reunite the nation.

What was a major issue that made the 1860 presidential election more than just a political competition?

• Taxation

• Economic policies

• Slavery

• Foreign relations

During the 1858 Illinois Senate race, what was Abraham Lincoln's stance on slavery?

• He opposed its expansion into new states.

• He believed each state should decide independently.

• He wanted to abolish it immediately.

• He supported its expansion into new states.

Who won the Illinois Senate seat in 1858 after the debates with Abraham Lincoln?

• Abraham Lincoln

• John Bell

• Stephen A. Douglas

• John C. Breckinridge

Which states were considered swing states crucial for Lincoln's victory in the 1860 election?

• California and Texas

• New Jersey and Pennsylvania

• Florida and Georgia

• Ohio and Michigan

What was the immediate consequence of Lincoln's election victory in 1860?

• The ratification of constitutional amendments

• The abolition of slavery

• The secession of South Carolina

• The start of the Civil War