The Election of 1860 - Erin Banas | Library

Instructions

Each of the identities described below is someone who would have voted in the Election of 1860.  Based on the information provided, select which candidate the identity would have likely voted for in the election to demonstrate your understanding of the candidates.

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You are a 35-year-old living in Memphis. You work loading steamboats on the Mississippi River. You are concerned that if too many slaves are emancipated you may lose your job. War would also stop shipping on the river, threatening your job. Who will you vote for?

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You are a 35-year-old Philadelphia businessman born in Huntsville, Alabama. Your family moved north because your father passionately opposed slavery. Who will you vote for?

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You are a 41-year-old poorly educated self made-man from Tennessee. You have made a fortune as a planter and slave trader in West Tennessee. You are willing to fight a war to protect your livelihood. Who will you vote for?

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You are a 30-year-old tenant farmer in Illinois. You do not own your own farm. You consider yourself neither an abolitionist nor a supporter of slavery. You would like to own your own farm and you are considering moving west to find land. You do not want to compete with slave owners in the territories. Who will you vote for?

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Your are a 32 year old shipping clerk in Mobile, Alabama. You do not own slaves but are not opposed to slavery. You are concerned that a potential war might impact the shipping trade. Who will you vote for?

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You are a 40-year-old living in Iowa with a small family farm and 6 sons. You are concerned that if slavery is allowed to spread in territories across the northern midwest, large plantation farms with hundreds of slaves will overrun the area, making it impossible for your sons to one day own land and a small farm. Who will your vote for?

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You are a 27-year-old doctor in New York City. You are a staunch advocate of state rights and you firmly believe that the voting population within a state should determine if slavery should be legal or illegal within their state's boundaries. Who will you vote for?

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You are a 36-year-old farmer in eastern Pennsylvania. Your family are Quakers and you are strongly opposed to slavery and war. Some of your friends have been active in the Underground Railroad assisting escaped slaves get north to freedom. Who will you vote for?

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You are 43-year-old lawyer in eastern Mississippi. You own a number of slaves and are involved in politics. You are in favor of preserving the Union but you do not believe in abolition of Slavery. Who will you vote for?

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You are a 31-year-old businessman living in Missouri. You reject the arguments of both Republicans and secessionists. You want to keep slavery and stay in the Union. Who will you vote for?

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Directions: Read each question carefully and write your response in the corresponding space. Use complete sentences; an outline or bulleted list alone is not acceptable.

Use your knowledge of U.S. history to answer parts A, B, and C.

A. Briefly explain why ONE of the following options most clearly marks that the Civil War was an inevitable response to the argument over slavery.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
Bleeding Kansas (1854)
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
The Presidential Election of 1860
B. Provide an example of an event or development to support your explanation.

C. Briefly explain why one of the other options is not as useful to mark the inevitability of the Civil War.