The Civil War broke …show more content…
Lincoln ended up losing the senate seat to Douglas even though the republicans won the popular vote in Illinois. Although Lincoln lost, his campaign spread throughout the nation, allowing his beliefs and name to become known. In 1860, a political group from Illinois organized a campaign for Lincoln to run for president. Lincoln ended up advancing throughout the campaign and faced Stephen Douglas again. This time, Lincoln won the election of 1860 and became the 16th President of the United States. On March 4th, 1861 Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated and this sparked the flame to the Civil War. Southern states did not like the idea that an antislavery republican was now the president and started to secede from the Union. Southern economy strived upon the growth of cotton farms; which were picked by slaves. The thought of losing their voice made the succession begin. The first state to go was South Carolina on December 20th, 1860. Three weeks later, Mississippi decides to secede on January 9th, 1860. Then a day later, Florida joins the Confederacy as well. By June of 1861, eleven states had left the Union and formed the Confederate army. Jefferson Davis, a known pro-slavery advocate, was then elected President of the Confederate army.