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| | == Review == | | == Review == |
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| − | In the 1850s, the [[Whig Party]] collapsed with the antislavery wing forming the Republican Party in the North, and the wealthy Southern Whigs joining the Democratic Party in the South. There have always been geographic strengths and weaknesses in political parties: in areas of the country where one party is strong, the opposing party is weak. Recall that the Federalist Party in 1800 was strong in Massachusetts, while the Democratic-Republican Party was strong in Virginia. Jackson's Democratic Party was strong in the West (Tennessee) and South, while the Whig Part was strong in the northeast. | + | In the 1850s, the [[Whig Party]] collapsed with the antislavery wing forming the Republican Party in the North, and the wealthy southern Whigs joining the Democratic Party in the South. There have always been geographic strengths and weaknesses in political parties: in areas of the country where one party is strong, the opposing party is weak. Recall that the Federalist Party in 1800 was strong in Massachusetts, while the Democratic-Republican Party was strong in Virginia. Jackson's Democratic Party was strong in the West (Tennessee) and South, while the Whig Part was strong in the northeast. |
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| − | In the late 1850s, the Republicans were strong in the North, and Democrats were strong in the South. But the Republican Party was young and had not fully developed, and there were still many northern Democrats, which gave the Democrats the upper hand in elections in the 1850s. The Democratic Party presidential candidate won both in 1852 (Franklin Pierce) and in 1856 (James Buchanan). Both Pierce and Buchanan were Democrats and pro-slavery. | + | In the late 1850s, the Republicans were strong in the North, and Democrats were strong in the South (the opposite is true today). But the Republican Party was young and had not fully developed, and there were still many northern Democrats, which gave the Democrats the upper hand in elections in the 1850s. The Democratic Party presidential candidate won both in 1852 (Franklin Pierce) and in 1856 (James Buchanan). Both Pierce and Buchanan were Democrats and pro-slavery. |
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| − | For the presidential election of 1860, the Republican platform supported the Wilmot Proviso and rejected slavery in territories, which included a rejection of "popular sovereignty." However, the platform attempted to broaden its appeal by backing state rights, which was a key position of the pro-slavery southern states that were predominantly Democratic. Abraham Lincoln, the Repunlican nominee for president, had switched from the Whig Party to the Republican party in 1856, and campaigned on saving the Union. | + | For the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party platform supported the Wilmot Proviso and rejected slavery in the territories, and thus rejected Stephen Douglas's approach of "popular sovereignty." However, the Republican Party platform attempted to broaden its appeal by backing state rights, which was also supported by southern states that were predominantly Democratic. Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee for president, had switched from the Whig Party to the Republican Party in 1856, and in 1860 campaigned for president by advocating saving the Union (keeping the North and South together in one country). |
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| | == Secession == | | == Secession == |