Campaign of 1856

Many issues from the campaign of 1856 led to the breakout of the Civil War. Such issues involved: nationalism, states rights, slavery, immigration, and the Industrial Revolution. All of which played an immense role in the spark to start the fire of the war between one nation. Each party had there own feelings on many of the issues at hand, which caused much of the chaos, and none of the parties were willing to back down on the beliefs.One issue had been around for a great deal of time; this issue was that of slavery. Almost everyone in the South owned a number of slaves, which is if you were white. The views of each party were set at half and half. The Democrats and the Free-Soilers both felt that the laws of slavery should stay how they were. Yet on the other hand, the Republicans and Know-Nothing parties felt otherwise about slavery, that every man is created equal under God.James Buchanan was the front-runner at the Democratic convention in Cincinnati in June 1856. His major appeal was being abroad during the previous few years, thus being above much of the dispute. Buchanan was nominated unanimously on the 17th ballot. The Democratic platform, among other things, supported the compromise of 1850, opposed federal interference in slavery and supported the building of the transcontinental railroad. Buchanan had two opponents in the election, John Fremont (of the newly organized Republican party) and Millard Fillmore of the Know-Nothing party.The Republicans opposed the extension of slavery, and held Pierce responsible for the violence in Kansas at the time. The Know-Nothing Party consisted of those opposed to immigration and to Catholic influence. The slogan of the Republican Party in the candidate was "Free Speech, Free Press, Free soil, Free Men, Fremont and Victory!" The Democrats claimed that the South would not stand for a victory of Fremont and would disaffiliate. In addition, they claimed that Fremont was a Catholic (which he ...