The Breaking Point: John Brown and the Election of 1860
In Grade 8 US history, students learn about the final breaking points before the Civil War: John Brown raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 and Abraham Lincoln election in 1860. Brown violent attempt to start a slave rebellion horrified the South while inspiring many abolitionists. Lincoln election on a platform opposing slavery expansion convinced Southern states to secede, beginning the Civil War. This topic is covered in History Alive! The United States Through Industrialism, Chapter 7.
Key Concepts
By the late 1850s, the nation was at a breaking point over slavery. The famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas highlighted the deep divisions. Then, abolitionist John Brown’s violent attack on a federal arsenal shocked the country. John Brown’s raid was seen as an act of terrorism in the South but heroism by some in the North, deepening the mistrust.
The election of 1860 proved to be the final trigger. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, Southern states feared he would abolish slavery. In response, seven states voted to secede from the Union, declaring themselves a new nation. This act of separation directly led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Common Questions
Who was John Brown and what did he do?
John Brown was a radical abolitionist who led a violent raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859. He hoped to spark a slave rebellion, but the raid failed and he was captured, tried, and executed.
How did John Brown raid affect the sectional crisis?
In the South, Brown raid was seen as proof that Northerners wanted to incite violent slave uprisings. It intensified Southern fear and pushed more Southerners toward secession. In the North, many saw Brown as a martyr.
Why did Lincoln election lead to secession?
Lincoln won without receiving a single Southern electoral vote, running on a platform opposing slavery expansion. Southerners feared Lincoln would eventually abolish slavery, and several states seceded before he was even inaugurated.
Which textbook covers John Brown and the Election of 1860 in Grade 8?
History Alive! The United States Through Industrialism, Chapter 7: The Union Challenged, covers John Brown raid and the Election of 1860 as breaking points leading to the Civil War.
What were the Lincoln-Douglas debates?
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during the 1858 Illinois Senate race. They focused on slavery and brought Lincoln to national attention, setting up his 1860 presidential run.