Election
Elected President of the Confederacy
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1860 in United States of America
Explore 36 historical events and records for United States of America in 1860.
Historical records for United States of America in 1860
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 36 of 36 unique records.
36Unique records
1 of 1Page
33Named events on this page
7Named people on this page
13Places on this page
February
May
Hartford Speech
Lincoln addresses Hartford Republicans before the presidential campaign
Pre Election Campaign
Lincoln remains in Springfield on the eve of the presidential election
June
Marriage
Grover Cleveland marries France's Folsom
Marriage
Grover Cleveland marries France's Folsom
New Haven Speech
Lincoln speaks to Connecticut Republicans during his New England tour
Presidential Election
Lincoln defeats Stephen Douglas John C Breckinridge and John Bell in the 1860 presidential election
Presidential Election
Lincoln is elected 16th President of the United States
September
Decatur Convention
Illinois Republicans promote Lincoln as the Rail Candidate
Illinois Republican Convention
Illinois Republicans endorse Lincoln for the presidency at Decatur
Rail Candidate
Lincoln supporters use the rail splitter image to strengthen his popular appeal
Other events (month unknown)
Cooper Union Address
Lincoln delivers the Cooper Union Address and impresses eastern Republicans
New England Speaking Tour
Lincoln speaks across New England after the Cooper Union Address
Acceptance Letter
Lincoln formally accepts the Republican presidential nomination
Nomination Notification
Republican leaders notify Lincoln of his nomination for President
Party Leader
Lincoln becomes the national standard bearer of the Republican Party
Republican National Convention
Republicans open their national convention in Chicago
Republican Nomination
Lincoln is chosen as the Republican candidate for the 1860 presidential election
Republican Nomination
Lincoln wins the Republican presidential nomination on the third ballot
Republican Platform
Republicans adopt a national platform opposing the expansion of slavery
Vice Presidential Ticket
Republicans nominate Hannibal Hamlin as Lincolns running mate
Campaign Biography
Republicans circulate campaign biographies presenting Lincoln as a self made western candidate
Campaign Headquarters
Lincoln conducts much of the presidential campaign from Springfield
Republican Newspapers
Republican newspapers promote Lincoln as a moderate and electable candidate
Campaign Strategy
Lincoln avoids major public speaking while Republican organizers run the national campaign
Wide Awakes
Republican Wide Awake clubs campaign for Lincoln with public rallies and torchlight parades
Four Way Contest
Lincoln campaigns in a four candidate presidential race
Northern Electoral Strategy
Republicans focus on winning free state electoral votes
Campaign Correspondence
Lincoln manages political correspondence with Republican allies across the country
Republican Rallies
Republican rallies promote Lincoln as the candidate of free labor and national growth
Final Campaign Weeks
Republicans intensify campaign work before the national election
October State Elections
Republican state victories strengthen confidence in Lincolns presidential campaign
Secession of South Carolina
South Carolina votes to secede after Lincolns election
Lincoln Election National Reporting
Abraham Lincoln's election sharpened sectional tensions and became a defining news event during Raymond's leadership.
Resignation of Robert Edward Lee
Resigns his commission & joins the Confederacy, alongside one third of Army Officers
State Engineer-in-Chief
Appointed State Engineer-in-Chief
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.