— Ch. 1 · Background And Secession Crisis —
Peace Conference of 1861.
~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 sent shockwaves through the Southern states. Republicans had campaigned on ending slavery, and their victory convinced many Southerners that their way of life was under immediate threat. In response, eight slave states began holding elections to choose delegates for special conventions. These conventions were tasked with deciding whether to leave the Union entirely. By February 1861, seven states had already passed ordinances of secession. They formed a new government in Montgomery, Alabama, and refused to attend any peace talks. The remaining eight states, including Virginia and Kentucky, still held out hope for compromise.
Crittenden Compromise Proposals
In December 1860, John J. Crittenden introduced six constitutional amendments designed to protect slavery permanently. His plan extended the Missouri Compromise line all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This move directly conflicted with the Republican Platform adopted during the recent election. President-elect Abraham Lincoln made his objections known immediately. A specially selected Committee of Thirteen debated the proposal but rejected it by a vote of 7, 6 on December 22. Crittenden then brought the issue to the Senate floor as a national referendum. The Senate voted 25, 23 against it on January 16. A modified version considered later by an ad hoc committee also failed when the House rejected it on January 7.