The Southern Democratic Party was the Southern wing of the Democratic Party that, during the 1860 presidential election, split off from the Northern Democratic Party to run John C. Breckinridge for President with Joseph Lane as his running mate. As a radically pro-states' rights party that was steadfastly opposed to the federal government interfering with the expansion of slavery, the party occupied the radical left of the Third Party System's spectrum, with the centralizing and anti-slavery Republican Party occupying the federalist right.
The Southern Democrats emphasized agrarianism and the importance of states' rights, viewing slavery as a natural and beneficial institution essential to their economic model. They advocated for a strict interpretation of the Constitution, particularly in protecting property rights, including slave ownership. While sharing some principles with Jacksonian Northern Democrats, such as a distrust of centralized government, Southern Democrats diverged significantly by prioritizing the rights of slaveholders and the preservation of slavery as central to their political identity. Northern Democrats, led by Stephen A. Douglas, promoted popular sovereignty, allowing territories to decide on the legality of slavery. Southern Democrats rejected this, fearing it would lead to the restriction of slavery. Southern Democrats supported policies that protected and promoted the plantation economy, whereas Northern Democrats were more focused on free labor and industrial development.
The Southern Democrats also advocated for the extension of slavery into new territories and states without the need for referenda, seeing enslavement as a constitutional right that could not be voted away. The party also strongly supported the enforcement of laws that would return runaway slaves to their owners. The Southern Democrats favored an agrarian economy dominated by plantation agriculture, emphasizing the importance of cotton and tobacco as cash crops. They were generally skeptical of Northern industrialization, fearing it would undermine their agrarian lifestyle and the institution of slavery.
Southern Democrats were most successful in the Deep South states (e.g., Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina), where the plantation economy was deeply entrenched and reliant on slavery. Their support came primarily from wealthy plantation owners, as well as poorer farmers who aspired to own slaves or who supported the institution for economic reasons. In the Northern and Midwestern regions, their support was limited but present among certain demographics. Some Irish and German immigrants in urban areas may have supported Southern Democrats due to their opposition to abolitionism and the influence of anti-British sentiments. They also found some support among small-scale farmers and laborers who opposed the growing abolitionist sentiment and feared competition from free Black labor.
The Southern Democratic ticket would win 672,601 votes (14.38% of total votes cast) and 72 electoral votes in the 1860 presidential election, placing in third behind the Republican Abraham Lincoln's 1,855,276 votes (39.67% of the vote) and 180 electoral votes and the Northern Democrat Stephen A. Douglas' 1,004,042 (21.47%) and 12 electoral votes, while coming before Constitutional Union Party candidate John Bell's 590,980 (12.64%) and 39 electoral votes. The Southern Democrats won the entire Deep South in addition to Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, and Delaware, while losing the slave states of Tennessee and Virginia to Bell. In New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, anti-Lincoln votes were combined into fusion tickets. The Southern Democrats also won 34.37% of the vote in Oregon, 28.34% of the vote in California, and 20.51% of the vote in Connecticut. Some voters in Connecticut were aligned with Southern economic interests, particularly in industries that depended on Southern cotton and trade. California had a diverse population, including many Southern transplants and settlers who brought pro-slavery sentiments with them. This demographic contributed to Breckinridge's support. The state's economy was closely linked to Southern agriculture, particularly cotton, which fostered a sense of solidarity with the South among some Californian voters. Many residents were opposed to the growing abolitionist movement and viewed Breckinridge as a defender of their economic and social interests. Like California, Oregon had settlers from the South who maintained pro-slavery views, contributing to Breckinridge's support. Many Oregonians were concerned about the potential impact of abolitionism on their way of life, leading them to support a candidate who promised to protect slavery. The divided Democratic Party allowed Breckinridge to capture a segment of the vote that might have otherwise supported a more moderate candidate.
In states like South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and others, Breckinridge's supporters were strong proponents of secession. They argued that the federal government was infringing upon their rights, particularly regarding slavery. The political environment following the election was charged, with many Southern leaders advocating for immediate secession. Breckinridge himself, while not an active secessionist leader, was aligned with the sentiments of his faction. Some supporters of Breckinridge were more moderate and favored a position of conditional unionism. They sought to address grievances through compromise rather than outright secession. These individuals often believed in preserving the Union but insisted on protections for slavery. There were also Breckinridge supporters who ultimately remained loyal to the Union. Some former supporters of Breckinridge were part of the loyalist factions in the border states of Missouri and Kentucky, advocating for the Union while opposing secession. Many individuals and families in the Upper South and border regions had economic ties to the North that influenced their loyalty to the Union.
While the Confederacy did not have a partisan political system, Southern Democrats dominated Jefferson Davis' administration, while Cotton Whigs formed a de facto opposition party. Following the end of the American Civil War, many Southern Democrats rejected the "New Departure" strategy of moderate Democrats in favor of supporting the "redemption" of the South through the violent overthrow of Black and Republican rule, the end of Reconstruction, and the restoration of the political supremacy of the planter class.
Gallery[]
