How We Got Lincoln Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How We Got Lincoln - Essay Example Judd, in order to give Lincoln an advantage of home city. Another thing was the reaction that Abraham Lincoln got to his speech that he delivered in Copper Union in 1860, which attracted a lot of Northeastern Republicans, who were already seeking an alternative to Senator Seward. This paper tends to discuss and analyze, â€Å"How we got Lincoln†, by focusing on the national republican convention held in Chicago in1860. Abraham Lincoln became a nominee for presidency in the convention. The writer states that much was said against Senator Seward, who was the focus of attention on the May 17, 1860 Chicago national republican convention, something that went in support of Abraham Lincoln. Delegates from 24 states, including Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland, attended the Chicago convention. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois were the primary nominees from a turf of twelve candidates. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, a candid abolitionist was selected as vice-president. The Republican platform, which was adopted by the convention, clearly stated that slavery would not be extended, nor promoted anymore, for the benefit of the black community. It stated that free-homestead legislation would be enacted, and a daily mail-service and a transcontinental railroad will be established. In the convention, three candidates stood in opposition of Lincoln. They were Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), John Bell (Constitutional Union Party), and John Cabell Breckenridge (Southern Democrat). Douglas was Lincoln’s closest rival. Lincoln's key squabble for recognition at the convention was Douglas’ defeat for the Senate in the 1860 election in his home state of Chicago, Illinois. Given that Douglas was a popular Democratic nominee, Lincoln's show in the election was significant. However, Lincoln won a lot more votes than Douglas, winning a good percentage of the popular vote. There was also a lot of competition for the Republican nomination in the convention. The Republican candidates included Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania,  Ben Wade and Salmon Chase of Ohio,  Cassius Clay of Kentucky, and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was the least known among all the Republican candidates, because he had not held any elected position since 1840. Lincoln had fewer votes than Seward on the first and second ballet, but won from the third ballot in the convention. In the third ballet, Lincoln was short of a few votes, but Ohio chair, over a settlement, declared the switch of four votes from Salmon Chase to Lincoln, which pushed Lincoln over the required total. The convention expressed immense applause. After a long journey of campaign and elections, the Vice President Breckinridge, on February 11, announced the victory of Abraham Lincoln. Republican success in the Chicago convention became possible not only because of Lincoln’s stance against slavery, but also due to dissatisfaction of the citizens with the D emocratic Party. Hence, we see that the writer has portrayed a true picture of the Chicago national convention of 1860, in which Lincoln won his nomination as a president. The writer has given intricate details, and there is nothing else about the convention that is left to be conveyed to the reader. The writer, in his article, has tried to convey the true picture of achievement by Abraham Lincoln at the Chicago conve