Formed in 1854 when a coalition of Independent Democrats, Free Soilers, and Conscience Whigs united in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Bill Stressed free labor and opposed extension of slavery in the territories Moderates could oppose slavery on “moral” grounds as wrong, while admitting that slavery had a “right” to exist where the constitution originally allowed John C. Fremont was the first Republican presidential candidate in 1856 The Election of 1860 Democrats Republicans Split at 1860 Convention in Charleston, SC when Overtly sectional and decidedly opposed to a platform defending slavery was defeated and slavery draw in most northerners with a Deep South delegates walked out platform favoring a homestead act, protective tariff, and transportation improvements At a splinter convention, Stephen Douglas was nominated as presidential candidate on a Platform opposed extension of slavery but platform opposing Congressional interference defended the right of states to control their own with slavery “domestic institutions” Southern delegates met and nominated John Abraham Lincoln is nominated presidential Breckenridge of Kentucky as a candidate on a candidate on the third ballot pro-slavery platform
Formed in 1854 when a coalition of Independent Democrats, Free Soilers, and Conscience Whigs united in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Bill Stressed free labor and opposed extension of slavery in the territories Moderates could oppose slavery on “moral” grounds as wrong, while admitting that slavery had a “right” to exist where the constitution originally allowed John C. Fremont was the first Republican presidential candidate in 1856 The Election of 1860 Democrats Republicans Split at 1860 Convention in Charleston, SC when a platform defending slavery was defeated and Deep South delegates walked out At a splinter convention, Stephen Douglas was nominated as presidential candidate on a platform opposing Congressional interference with slavery Southern delegates met and nominated John Breckenridge of Kentucky as a candidate on a pro-slavery platform Overtly sectional and decidedly opposed to slavery draw in most northerners with a platform favoring a homestead act, protective tariff, and transportation improvements Platform opposed extension of slavery but defended the right of states to control their own “domestic institutions” Abraham Lincoln is nominated presidential candidate on the third ballot