An Affair of States
A Breckenridge Victory Timeline
By Wiiguy
The cover of a Missouri newspaper on November 7th, 1860.
Part One: Iron
Chapter One: 1860 Elections
Prologue
Many prominent historians speculate about what would have happened if Abraham Lincoln or John Bell had managed to claw their way to the top in 1860. In fact, prominent alternate history writer Harry Turtledove wrote an amazing series of books, detailing Abraham Lincoln's election, the subsequent splintering of the North and South, and a brutal Civil War that followed. The University of Greater Kansas has created a history of the North American continent, starting from a major divergence point that has fascinated historians and alt-historians alike for decades: the 1860 Presidential elections.
The Election of Breckenridge
To the recently-founded Southern Democrats, Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln seemed a weakling, but one who had a distinct advantage: the divisions between the hard-line, pro-slavery Southern Democrats and the more moderate, liberal Northern Democrats. This split caused a weakening of the Democratic power base, allowing Lincoln to pull into first place, with bell at a second place. However, Breckenridge made a choice: to pursue votes in Virginia and Tennessee instead of his original planned campaign closer to home. This won him just enough electoral college votes to plac himself at a close first to Lincoln.
A map of the 1860 elections by electoral vote.
While Lincoln undoubtedly swept the Northern states as well as California and Oregon, Breckenridge managed to keep the states he had taken from Bell and the Constitutional Union Party long emough to win the White House. His victory in Delaware and Maryland were both partly credited to incumbent President James Buchanan, who had been supporting Breckenridge's campaign. This is not at all surprising, considering that Breckenridge was the incumbent Vice President at the time.
Incumbent James Buchanan. Buchanan was a major supporter of Breckenridge's campaign. With less of his help, many people think that Breckenridge would have lost Delaware and Maryland.
On Election Day in November 1860, the quadrennial election cycle was completed for the 16th time. The Electoral College's votes were counted, and Breckenridge was declared winner by a tiny margin. When the news arrived, Abraham Lincoln was reported to have simply shaken his head and proclaimed, "A house divided cannot stand," probably a reference to the major splits occurring within the former Whig and Democrat parties, as well as the cultural and political seam widening over the Mason-Dixon line. Breckenridge's administration did nothing to bridge the gap; When events such as the Jayhawker Uprisings or the Californian Crisis came about, opportunities for reconciliation were lost in Breckenridge's two terms. The Union's days were numbered.
A Breckenridge Victory Timeline
By Wiiguy
The cover of a Missouri newspaper on November 7th, 1860.
Part One: Iron
Chapter One: 1860 Elections
Prologue
Many prominent historians speculate about what would have happened if Abraham Lincoln or John Bell had managed to claw their way to the top in 1860. In fact, prominent alternate history writer Harry Turtledove wrote an amazing series of books, detailing Abraham Lincoln's election, the subsequent splintering of the North and South, and a brutal Civil War that followed. The University of Greater Kansas has created a history of the North American continent, starting from a major divergence point that has fascinated historians and alt-historians alike for decades: the 1860 Presidential elections.
The Election of Breckenridge
To the recently-founded Southern Democrats, Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln seemed a weakling, but one who had a distinct advantage: the divisions between the hard-line, pro-slavery Southern Democrats and the more moderate, liberal Northern Democrats. This split caused a weakening of the Democratic power base, allowing Lincoln to pull into first place, with bell at a second place. However, Breckenridge made a choice: to pursue votes in Virginia and Tennessee instead of his original planned campaign closer to home. This won him just enough electoral college votes to plac himself at a close first to Lincoln.
A map of the 1860 elections by electoral vote.
While Lincoln undoubtedly swept the Northern states as well as California and Oregon, Breckenridge managed to keep the states he had taken from Bell and the Constitutional Union Party long emough to win the White House. His victory in Delaware and Maryland were both partly credited to incumbent President James Buchanan, who had been supporting Breckenridge's campaign. This is not at all surprising, considering that Breckenridge was the incumbent Vice President at the time.
Incumbent James Buchanan. Buchanan was a major supporter of Breckenridge's campaign. With less of his help, many people think that Breckenridge would have lost Delaware and Maryland.
On Election Day in November 1860, the quadrennial election cycle was completed for the 16th time. The Electoral College's votes were counted, and Breckenridge was declared winner by a tiny margin. When the news arrived, Abraham Lincoln was reported to have simply shaken his head and proclaimed, "A house divided cannot stand," probably a reference to the major splits occurring within the former Whig and Democrat parties, as well as the cultural and political seam widening over the Mason-Dixon line. Breckenridge's administration did nothing to bridge the gap; When events such as the Jayhawker Uprisings or the Californian Crisis came about, opportunities for reconciliation were lost in Breckenridge's two terms. The Union's days were numbered.
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