The Differences Slavery Made: A Close Analysis of Two American Communities

National Election Returns, 1860

Lincoln won the national election, but with less than a mjority of popular votes cast. Slave states split their votes between Breckinridge and Bell, while Free states voted primarily for Lincoln and Douglas.

View Data

Candidate All States Free States (18) Slave States (15)
Abraham Lincoln (Republican) 1,864,735 1,838,347 26,388
John Bell (Constitutional Union) 576,414 76,973 499,441
Stephen Douglas (Democrat) 979,425 815,857 163,568
John C. Breckinridge (S. Democrat) 669,472 99,381 570,091
Fusion Tickets 595,846 580,426 15,420



Edward L. Ayers and William G. Thomas, III
National Election Returns, 1860
2001

Points of Analysis to this Data:

"Precincts in Augusta that supported Breckinridge at a high level in 1860 represented the extremes of wealth, as the wealthiest and the poorest precincts drew more support for Breckinridge than any other precincts."

"In Augusta clusters of contiguous precincts gave their support in the 1860 presidential election in similar patterns."

"Whigs accounted for the most visible party activists in Augusta County, but activists in both parties exerted significant influence."

"The precincts with high Bell support had average household wealth and farm value well below county averages. For these marginal places a vote for Bell represented a safe course, the least change."

"Lincoln won sixteen precincts in Franklin, ten of them by margins greater than 55 percent, with support mainly from the urban center of the county and places with the highest numbers of black residents--even though black men could not vote in Pennsylvania."


Citation: Key = E174
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