well basically the nation is almost completely divided and the election has 4 candidates. the republicans (against slavery) have Lincoln as their candidate, the Northern democrats have elected stephen douglas, the Southern democrats have chosen john breckinridge and the constitutional party has chosen John Bell. Now stephen douglas was sure that lincoln would win so he told the southerners that no matter what the outcome of the election be, keep the union together which everyone ignored because as soon as Lincoln was elected, south Caroline seceded from the union which led to more of the south seceding which led to the creation of the confederate states of america which led to the civil war. hope this helps.
