In short
Abraham Lincoln won the U.S. presidency on November 6, 1860, carrying 18 of 33 states without winning a single Southern state. His Republican platform opposed slavery's expansion into new territories, which alarmed slaveholding states enough that seven seceded before he even took office, setting the stage for the Civil War.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
A United States presidential election was held on November 6, 1860. The Republican Party ticket of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin emerged victorious.
As it was happening
12 voices, 157 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Lincoln elected president
Abraham Lincoln wins the presidency with 180 electoral votes. Despite securing no Southern electoral votes, his plurality of the national popular vote (39.6%) proves decisive. The Republican platform's opposition to slavery expansion alienates the South.
Voices from this moment (5)
The New York Times
Nov 7
“Lincoln Elected President - Republican Ticket Triumphant”
The Charleston Mercury
Nov 7
“Black Republican Elected - The Union in Peril”
The London Times
Nov 9
“American Election Result - Lincoln Wins Amid Sectional…”
The Illinois State Journal
Nov 7
“Illinois Sends Lincoln to the Presidency”
1 more voices - captured but not shown in this slot.
As it was happening
12 voices, 157 days.
Day 0 · November 6, 1860
Lincoln elected president
Abraham Lincoln wins the presidency with 180 electoral votes. Despite securing no Southern electoral votes, his plurality of the national popular vote (39.6%) proves decisive. The Republican platform's opposition to slavery expansion alienates the South.
“Lincoln Elected President - Republican Ticket Triumphant”
- The New York Times, Nov 7
“Black Republican Elected - The Union in Peril”
- The Charleston Mercury, Nov 7
“American Election Result - Lincoln Wins Amid Sectional…”
- The London Times, Nov 9
“Illinois Sends Lincoln to the Presidency”
- The Illinois State Journal, Nov 7
“Abraham Lincoln wins the presidency with 180 electoral…”
- Lincoln elected president, Nov 6
Day 4 · November 10, 1860
South Carolina legislature calls secession convention
Four days after Lincoln's victory, the South Carolina legislature formally calls for a state convention to consider secession. The move signals immediate regional crisis.
“Four days after Lincoln's victory, the South Carolina…”
- South Carolina legislature calls secession convention, Nov 10
Day 44 · December 20, 1860
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina becomes the first state to formally secede from the Union, passing an ordinance of secession. The state cites Lincoln's election and Republican anti-slavery stance as justification.
“South Carolina becomes the first state to formally secede…”
- South Carolina secedes, Dec 20
Day 50 · December 26, 1860
Fort Sumter seized by South Carolina militia
South Carolina forces occupy Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, a federal military installation. The seizure removes a symbol of federal authority from Southern territory.
“South Carolina forces occupy Fort Sumter in Charleston…”
- Fort Sumter seized by South Carolina militia, Dec 26
Day 64 · January 9, 1861
Mississippi secedes
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede, followed within weeks by Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Six states form the core of the nascent Confederacy.
“Mississippi becomes the second state to secede, followed…”
- Mississippi secedes, Jan 9
Day 90 · February 4, 1861
Confederate States of America formed
Representatives from seven seceded states meet in Montgomery, Alabama, to establish the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis is elected president, formalizing the Southern breakaway.
“Representatives from seven seceded states meet in…”
- Confederate States of America formed, Feb 4
Day 118 · March 4, 1861
Lincoln inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln takes the oath of office as the 16th U.S. president. In his inaugural address, he pledges not to attack slavery where it exists but refuses to recognize Southern secession as legitimate.
“Abraham Lincoln takes the oath of office as the 16th U.”
- Lincoln inaugurated, Mar 4
Day 157 · April 12, 1861
Battle of Fort Sumter begins Civil War
Confederate artillery bombards Fort Sumter, marking the opening military engagement of the American Civil War. The attack occurs five months after Lincoln's election, confirming the political crisis has become military.
“Confederate artillery bombards Fort Sumter, marking the…”
- Battle of Fort Sumter begins Civil War, Apr 12
The numbers.
6 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Electoral votes won by Lincoln
0 of 303
Popular votes for Lincoln
0,452 (39.6%)
States won by Lincoln
0 of 33
Southern states voting for Lincoln
0
Days between election and first secession
0 (South Carolina, December 20, 1860)
Voter turnout
0.0%
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The New York Times, The Charleston Mercury, The London Times.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
4 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States - New York · Nov 7, 1860
"Lincoln Elected President - Republican Ticket Triumphant"
Abraham Lincoln of Illinois has been elected President of the United States by a clear majority of the electoral votes, with Republican running mate Hannibal Hamlin securing the vice-presidency. The victory marks the first triumph of the fledgling Republican Party in a presidential contest.
- Nov 7, 1860
The Charleston Mercury
Newspaper · United States - South Carolina
"Black Republican Elected - The Union in Peril"
Synthesized from period reporting - The Mercury's editorial condemned Lincoln's election as a catastrophe for Southern interests, warning that Republican control of the presidency portended immediate threats to slavery and state sovereignty across the Cotton States.
- Nov 9, 1860
The London Times
Newspaper · United Kingdom - England
"American Election Result - Lincoln Wins Amid Sectional Crisis"
Synthesized from period reporting - British observers noted with concern the election of a Republican president on a platform hostile to slavery's expansion, predicting grave constitutional conflict between North and South in the months ahead.
- Nov 7, 1860
The Illinois State Journal
Newspaper · United States - Illinois
"Illinois Sends Lincoln to the Presidency"
Synthesized from period reporting - Springfield's leading Republican organ celebrated Lincoln's native state swinging decisively for the hometown candidate, with jubilant reports of torchlight processions and cannon fire throughout the city.
Captured in time.
Captured before it changed
The web as it looked, the day it happened.
Wayback Machine snapshots of the pages people actually loaded that day. Click any card to open the archive at full size.
Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.US presidential election of 1860
en.wikipedia.org