Democratic Convention of 1860

The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention, and a convention of disgruntled Democrats, primarily Southerners. The convention of 1860 highlighted a split between the Northern and Southern democrats. Every other event on this timeline shows sectionalism on a broad nation-wide scale, however this is a more microscopic scale within the Democratic party. The main issue being disputed was, of course, slavery. The Southern democrats wanted more of a lenient candidate for president that would not completely abolish slavery. In contrast, the Northern government wanted a very strict, enforcing candidate that would completely abolish slavery. The two sides clashed, and what immediately followed was the beginning of the American Civil War.