November 6, 1860 (United States of America) – Abraham Lincoln defeated John C. Breckenridge, John Bell, and Stephen Douglas in the Presidential election, becoming the nation’s first Republican president.
Two years earlier, Mr. Lincoln lost the Illinois senate race to Stephen Douglas after a series of debates in which Lincoln spoke against the further spread of slavery. It was this stance that earned the attention of the burgeoning Republican party, and eventually Lincoln’s nomination as their presidential candidate.
March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated. Seven southern states had already ceded from the Union, following up on their threats of secession if a Republican were voted president. A month later, Gen. Beauregard and his troops opened fire on Fort Sumter, beginning the Civil War.
It’s very clear that Lincoln’s thoughts about expanding slavery and his political party affiliation helped sink the United States into what is generally considered its most turbulent period, but what impact did this have on genealogy?
Although no one knew it then, the election of Abraham Lincoln forever changed the American landscape, and our family histories.
Please feel free to use this article, in its entirety, in any way you see fit, so long as you include the byline in any copies, and properly cite it if used as research material.
To cite this post:
Jennifer Lynn Stingley, "Abraham Lincoln Elected the 16th President of the United States – 1860," Ancestor Archaeology, 6 November 2014 (http://ancestorarchaeology.com/2014/11/06/abraham-lincoln-elected-the-16th-president-of-the-united-states-1860/ : accessed [23 April 2018]).