| |
| 1859, Oct. 19 |
| |
| John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry further aroused sectional passions. | 1 |
| |
| 1860 |
| |
| The Davis resolutions, introduced by Jefferson Davis (1808–89) demanded a federal slave code for the protection of property in slaves in the territories. | 2 |
| Presidential campaign. The Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln on a platform opposing further extension of slavery in the territories and supporting homestead and tariff. The Democrats split at Charleston on the question of slavery in the territories. Two platforms were drawn up, one demanding a federal slave code, the other endorsing the Freeport doctrine of Douglas. Subsequently the northern Democrats nominated Douglas, while the sourthern Democrats named John C. Breckinridge. The Union Party nominated John Bell. Lincoln was elected, in a purely sectional contest. He received no electoral support in the slave states. | 3 |
| |
| Dec. 20 |
| |
| South Carolina adopted the ordinance of secession, as a protest against the election of Lincoln. | 4 |
| |
| Dec.–1861, Feb. 4 |
| |
| Futile efforts were made to save the Union: the Crittenden compromise resolutions, proposing the extension of the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific; conference of governors of northern states; the peace convention at Washington, Feb. 4, 1861. | 5 |
| |
| |
