How Did Abraham Lincoln's Election Lead To The Civil War?

The Civil War was undoubtedly one of the most violent happenings in the history of North America, and most people believe that it happened due to slavery. Even though many historical revisionists offered various additional reasons for why the war started, the majority of the scholars agree that slavery was the central cause.

It was the economy of slavery and the control of the system of slavery that was a major controversy in this dispute. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was a reflection that the Southern states have lost their influence and power, and it was the first in the series of events that led to the Civil War. Due to the exclusion of the Southern states from the system, they opted for secession, a decision that led to war.

The Political Differences Of The North And The South

It is important to understand that there very many differences between the North and the South before the happenings of the Civil War. The differences were sometimes drastic, and they stem from several social and economic issues, with slavery and territoriality at the top of the dispute. The abolition movement was born in the North, and the people of that movement believed that slavery should be eradicated.

The Southerners were concerned about this due to their economy and quality of life, depending on slavery. It was the core of their social system and not only a means of labor control. The Southerners wanted to protect their society that was built on slaves, and they were less concerned with improving society.

The Election Of The 16th President Of The United States

The election of Abraham Lincoln is considered to be one of the most crucial elections in the entire history of the United States. Abraham Lincoln was pitted against Stephen Douglas who was the representative for the Democratic Party, as well as John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. The central dispute throughout the election was slavery.

The most unusual aspect of this presidential election was that southern Democrats did not want their side to win. Their goal was to leave the Union, and they wanted to do so in a peaceful manner. Immediately after the results of the election and Lincoln's victory, legislature of South Carolina arranged political meetings and started the talk about succession.

The election of Abraham Lincoln is considered to be one of the major events that led to the start of the civil war in 1861. It was the final nail in the coffin for the Southerners that triggered secession. Southerners were feeling the threat of Lincoln and believed that he would put an end on slavery and its expansion. The North was gaining more power, and the slave states (the states in which slave trading was still legal) have deteriorated in their influence and presence in the House of Representatives. Eventually, many of the slave states decided to form the Confederacy and opted for secession, which in turn paved the way for the start of The American Civil War.