How the First Republican Got Elected

Americans remember Abraham Lincoln as one of the most influential presidents in U.S. history. Most forget he hadn't held public office in more than 10 years when the Republicans nominated him for president. He was elected to the Illinois legislature four times, serving from 1834 to 1841. Later, he served one term in the U.S. Congress, from 1847 to 1849. That was basically the extent of his government experience.

So why did the Republican Party nominate him in 1860? Because Lincoln and his friends came well prepared to capture the nomination. Just as important, Honest Abe had a nationwide reputation on the key issue of his day: slavery.

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