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The Republican Party was created in 1854, and Lincoln was only its second presidential candidate.
Lincoln won in 1860 because the Democratic Party split. The northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas, who had beaten Lincoln in the 1858 Illinois Senate race. Southern Democrats would not accept Douglas as their candidate. They held their own convention and nominated the current Vice President of the US, John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. People not happy with either of these formed a third party, the Constitutional Union Party, and nominated John Bell.
Douglas, Breckenridge and Bell split the Democratic vote three ways. This allowed Lincoln to become president with only 40% of the votes. Lincoln carried not a single southern state.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBecause, compared to the other candidates for the nomination, Lincoln was not a "top figure"
Once elected to Congress a decade ago and then no more reelected, he was substantially a provincial politician.
Popular in the Midwest, he seemed the most appropriate to deal with Stephen Douglas, also Illinoisan; born in Kentucky, such as Breckenridge, did not appear too "northerner".
About his attitude toward slavery, it was known he morally condemned it, but also that he was not an abolitionist and therefore could win the sympathies of the moderates "freesoilers."
Friend of immigrants and simple man, he seemed the most suitable to overcome the distrust of the working classes.
Ex-Whig could not arouse fear in conservatives.
He looked like a person not too marked, almost dull, good for the "facade", for the conquest of the great mass of voters .
The astute politicians of the Republican Party thought that if Lincoln were elected, they would have been able to keep him under their control.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe Democratic Party had been split, primarily over the issue of slavery.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agothe democrats has split.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoEnough people voted for him.
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When did the Republicans first have control of government?
Republicans first had control of the Federal Government in 1860 with the election of the first Republican President; Abraham Lincoln. (www.PatriotMusic.com)
Who was Stephen A Douglas?
Lincoln's opponent in the 1860 election
What election of 1860 was Lincoln unknown throughout the country before the?
election of 1860
When was the election of Abraham Lincoln?
November 1860
The Republicans became the clear favorite in the presidential election of 1860 when?
James Buchanan supported Abraham Lincoln.
Why did Abraham Lincoln receive the least the amount of votes in Virginia in the 1860 US presidential election?
In the 1860 US presidential election, Virginia, being a southern slave state had no use for Republicans. That party and Abraham Lincoln were seen as a threat to their way of life and their social institutions such as slavery.
Did Lincoln win Kentucky in the 1860 presidential election?
In the 1860 presidential election, Lincoln did not win in the State of Kentucky. The winner there was John Breckenridge.
Who did the Republicans nominate as their 1860 presidential candidate?
Abraham Lincoln
When was Abraham Lincoln nominated presisent?
Lincoln ran in the election of 1860.
Who ran for the presidency in 1860?
President Lincoln won the election of 1860. ---- -Buslog
Why did Lincoln win the presidential of 1860?
Lincoln won the presidential election in 1860 because the states were in disarray and divided. This allowed the Democrats to have the upper hand in the election.
What was the 1860 presidential election about?
The election of 1860 included the following candidates: Abraham Lincoln John Bell John Breckenrige Stephen Douglas The election of 1860 was mostly over the controversial issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln won a bitter election
