On 6 November 1860, Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, representing the newly-formed Republican Party, was elected as the 16th President of the United States.
His victory, marked by a decisive win in the electoral college, came at a time of heightened national tensions over issues like slavery and states’ rights.
Lincoln’s platform, which opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, resonated in the North but intensified discord in the South, where his election was seen as a direct threat to the institution of slavery.
This election result would set the stage for the secession of Southern states, ultimately leading to the Civil War, as Lincoln’s presidency promised to redefine the future of the nation.
