1860 Republican National Convention

1860 Republican National Convention

The 1860 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States, held in Chicago, Illinois at the Wigwam,cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1355.html|accessdate=March 28|accessdate=2007|date=2005|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|author=Karamanski, Theodore J.|title=Wigwam|work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago] nominated former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for President and U.S. Senator Hannibal Hamlin of Maine for Vice President. This was only the second national nominating convention for the Republican Party.

Other candidates at the convention included former New York Governor William H. Seward, U.S. Senator Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, former U.S. Representative Edward Bates of Missouri, and U.S. Senator Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania.

Seward had been the favorite going into the convention, and led on the first two ballots. His lead soon melted away to the dark horse Lincoln, who captured the nomination on the third ballot. Lincoln's campaign manager, David Davis, was credited with playing a substantial role in the convention outcome.

In an alternative view, Lincoln got the nomination as the result of a local scheme to pack the Wigwam with Lincoln supporters using counterfeit tickets.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/986.html|accessdate=March 28|accessdate=2007|date=2005|author=Sautter, R. Craig|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|title=Political Conventions|work=The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago] This early example of Chicago politics was led by Chicago Mayor John Wentworth. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagohs.org/history/politics/1860.html|accessdate=March 28|accessyear=2007|date=1999|author=|publisher=Chicago Historical Society|title=A Convention of Compromise: 1860|work=]

Lincoln-Hamlin went on to defeat three other major tickets that year, including Democratic nominee Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. Senator from Illinois.

Details

The Republican National Convention met in mid-May, after the Democrats had been forced to adjourn the 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina without a nominee and had not yet re-convened in Baltimore, Maryland. With the Democrats in disarray and with a sweep of the Northern states possible, the Republicans were confident going into their convention in Chicago. William H. Seward of New York was considered the front runner, followed by Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, and Missouri's Edward Bates.

As the convention developed, however, it was revealed that Seward, Chase, and Bates had each alienated factions of the Republican Party. Delegates were concerned that Seward was too closely identified with the radical wing of the party, and his moves toward the center had alienated the radicals. Chase, a former Democrat, had alienated many of the former Whigs by his coalition with the Democrats in the late 1840s, had opposed tariffs demanded by Pennsylvania, and critically, had opposition from his own delegation from Ohio. Bates outlined his positions on extension of slavery into the territories and equal constitutional rights for all citizens, positions that alienated his supporters in the border states and southern conservatives. German-Americans in the party opposed Bates because of his past association with the Know-Nothings.

Since it was essential to carry the West, and because Lincoln had a national reputation from his debates and speeches as the most articulate moderate, he won the party's nomination on the third ballot on May 16, 1860.

Senator Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was nominated for vice president, defeating Cassius M. Clay of Missouri.

The party platform clearly stated that slavery would not be allowed to spread any further, and it also promised that tariffs protecting industry would be imposed. The party promised a homestead law granting free farm land in the West to settlers. These provisions were highly unpopular in the South.

External links

* [http://www.archive.org/details/proceedingsofrep00repuiala "Proceedings of the Republican national convention held at Chicago, May 16, 17 and 18, 1860"]

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 1860 Democratic National Convention — 1860 Presidential Election Conventions Date(s) April 23 May 3, 1860 City Charleston, South Carolina …   Wikipedia

  • Republican National Convention — The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate… …   Wikipedia

  • 1880 Republican National Convention — The 1880 Republican National Convention convened from June 2 to June 8, 1880 at the Interstate Exposition Building in Chicago, Illinois, United States,cite book | last=Smith | first=Henry H. | title=All the Republican National Conventions from… …   Wikipedia

  • 1856 Republican National Convention — The 1856 Republican National Convention convened from June 17 to June 19 1856 at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and nominated General John C. Frémont of California and former Senator William Dayton of New… …   Wikipedia

  • 1864 Republican National Convention — There were two rival Republican conventions in 1864, the first was a group of radicals who nominated John C. Frémont for the Presidency on May 31, 1864 upset with Lincoln s position on the issues of slavery and post war reconciliation with the… …   Wikipedia

  • Republican National Committee — Founded 1856 Headquarters Washington, D.C., U.S. Key people Reince Priebus …   Wikipedia

  • 2008 Democratic National Convention — See also: Schedule for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party (United States) presidential candidates, 2008, and Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008 2008 Democratic National Convention 2008… …   Wikipedia

  • 2004 Democratic National Convention — 2004 Presidential Election …   Wikipedia

  • 1980 Democratic National Convention — 1980 Presidential Election Nominees Carter and Mondale …   Wikipedia

  • Democratic National Convention — For the most recent convention, see 2008 Democratic National Convention. For the next convention, see 2012 Democratic National Convention. Democratic National Committee Secretary Alice Travis Germond opens the roll call of the states during the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”