How did Abraham Lincoln come to win the presidency?

Answer 1

Lincoln attracted favorable attention nationally from his debates with Stephen Douglas when he ran for Senator in 1858. He became a rising star in the new Republican Party. However, he had three serious rivals for the nomination as President. Lincoln won by being the second choice of every delegate, so when the delegates realized their first choice would not be picked, they all fell back to Lincoln.

Lincoln was able to win the election because the Democratic party had split in two, so instead of running against one other person Lincoln ran against Southern Democrat John Breckinridge and Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas. Also, the Constitutional Union Party , made up of die-hard Whigs, ran John Bell. With the votes split four ways, Lincoln was able to win all of the free states with a popular vote total of only 39%.

Answer 2

Why Lincoln won the nomination has been subject of much debate. His expressed views on slavery were seen as more moderate than those of rivals Seward and Chase. Some feel that Seward lost more than Lincoln won, including Seward himself. Others attribute it to luck, and the fact that the convention was held in Lincoln's home state. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin believes the real reason was Lincoln's skill as a politician.

As to the How and the Why of his Presidency, they were inadvertently connected. His views regarding Slavery won him many sympathisers in the North, which was nearly the sole reason he won the elections especially taking into account that he had won over only 2 of 996 counties of the Southern States. Lincoln also took a different approach in his election run, he, for one, was the only one of the major four candidates of that time who chose not to give a speech in response to Douglas but instead monitored the campaign closely and relied on the Republican Party's enthusiasm. He was also the first President to place his photo on a campaign button, so his approach to the candidacy and the elections could have had to do with the people's reception of him...

Answer 3

Abraham Lincold became president because he was awesome. OH YEAH!

Answer 4

he became president because people voted 4 him

Answer 5

I believe it was because of his mother's death.

Answer 6

Lincoln was elected to the office of President, and according to the constitution, the President is the Commander in Chief.

Answer 7

Because many people voted for him

Answer 8

He was elected...