This remarkable 1860 presidential election poster in color is now yours to put on a wide variety of merch. Lovingly restored, can’t you see having this design on stuff like:
A Nation on the Brink
By the time of the 1860 presidential election, the country was deeply divided over slavery. The vile Dred Scott decision and the violence in Kansas had widened the gap between North and South.
John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry convinced many Southerners that the North threatened their way of life. The Democratic Party split, and the new Republican Party stood ready to challenge the old order.
Lincoln and Hamlin
Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. He had gained fame in the 1858 Illinois Senate debates, arguing against the spread of slavery. For vice president, the party chose Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, a former Democrat and experienced senator who added balance to the ticket.
The Campaign
The 1860 presidential election featured four candidates. Lincoln promised to stop slavery from expanding into the territories while leaving it alone where it already existed. Stephen Douglas supported popular sovereignty, while John C. Breckinridge demanded federal protection for slavery. John Bell avoided the issue and called for preserving the Union.
Lincoln didn’t really campaign actively, as was the custom at the time. Supporters held parades and rallies, praising him as a rail-splitter of humble origins. The central issue was slavery’s future in the western territories, along with fears about disunion. Lincoln’s name didn’t appear on most Southern ballots.
The Result
Lincoln won about 40% of the popular vote and a clear Electoral College majority, carrying nearly every free state. His victory led South Carolina to secede in December 1860, followed by other Southern states.
By the time Lincoln took office, the Confederacy had already formed. The election of 1860 placed a leader committed to containing slavery in the White House and set the stage for the Civil War.
Wear this color 1860 presidential election poster with pride!
