Section #1 - The Congressmen Who Built Then Broke The Union
Chapter 112: The 1860 race is unique in American history.
It is the first involving four serious party candidates:
| Republican | Northern Democrat | Southern Democrat | Constitutional Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln | Stephen Douglas | John Breckinridge | John Bell |
Also the division of Electoral College votes essentially rule out a Breckinridge or Bell win.
| North/Free States | South/Slave States | |
|---|---|---|
| # of Electoral Votes | 183 | 120 |
What this means is that the race boils down to the question of whether or not Lincoln can secure 152 of the 183 Free State votes needed for a majority.