1856 Election

• 1856 election had 4 candidates: fillmore, fremont, douglas and buchanan (winner).
• Fillmore (know nothing): had southern sympathies but was unpopular in the north. No position on slavery. nativist - focus on irish. In previous president had signed fugitive slave act. Ex whig.
• Fremont (republican): born in south, viewed as a western explorer and 'conquer of california'. 'romance' surrounding his career. Supported transcontinental railroad. Limited experiance and very young. Opposed expansion of slavery and thought it was the governments duty to prevent it.
• Douglas: (pierce was deeply unpopular so did not run for a second term), democrat, seen as a statesman and did Kansas - Nebraska act. (unpopular).
• Buchanan: northerner with southern principles, morally opposed to slavery, felt it was not the role of the government to ban slavery. Supported 1850 compromise and popular sovereignty. Appeared old.
• Buchanans home state, pennsylvania, was seen as a key battleground state (a state whose voters determine the outcome of presidential election); which made him the strongest democratic candidate.
• In north it was buchanan Vs fremont

  In south it was Buchanan Vs Fillmore
• There was fear for the safety of the union, if fremont won it was likely many southern states would ceced from the union.
• Democrats attacked republicans for being 'extreme abolitionists who wanted race equality'
• Buchanan won!
• Democrats had succesfully maintained their traditional supporters in the south.
• Republicans: defeated american party, this showed that northerners thought slave power was a greater threat than catholicism.
• Republicans: had gained influence and were now planning for a victory in 1860.