Ask AI: What was the presidential election of 1860, who was part of it, where did it take place, and why did it happen?

The presidential election of 1860 was a pivotal event in American history that took place on November 6, 1860. Four candidates vied for presidency: 1. Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, who opposed the expansion of slavery in the United States. 2. Stephen A. Douglas, the Northern Democratic candidate, who advocated for popular sovereignty, which would allow states and territories to decide whether to allow slavery. 3. John C. Breckinridge, the Southern Democratic candidate, who supported the protection and expansion of slavery. 4. John Bell, the candidate from the Constitutional Union Party, a new party that sought to preserve the Union by avoiding the divisive issue of slavery and focusing on other issues. The election took place across the United States, with each state conducting its own popular vote to determine which candidate would receive the state's electoral votes. The purpose of the election was to select a new President of the United States, as elections were conducted every four years under the U.S. Constitution. The election was particularly significant because the outcomes and divisions highlighted the deepening discord between the Northern and Southern states over the issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln's victory, largely due to his strong support in the North, alarmed the Southern states, who were concerned about the potential threat to the institution of slavery. This ultimately led to the secession of several Southern states from the Union and the beginning of the American Civil War.