Question

question 5 of 20
what led to lincolns win in the election of 1860?

a. he had the strongest platform.

b. he won an overwhelming majority in the border slave states.

c. there was a divided field of four candidates.

d. he was popular in the north and the south.

Explanation:

• Option A: Lincoln's platform (opposing slavery expansion) wasn't seen as the "strongest" in a universal sense, and it was divisive.
• Option B: Lincoln had little support in border slave states or the South, so this is incorrect.
• Option C: The 1860 election had four main candidates (Lincoln, Breckinridge, Bell, Douglas), splitting the vote. The Democratic Party was divided, and this vote - splitting helped Lincoln win the Electoral College even with a minority of the popular vote.
• Option D: Lincoln was unpopular in the South due to his anti - slavery - expansion stance, so this is wrong.

Answer:

C. There was a divided field of four candidates.