Everybody's Second Choice: The Story of How Abraham Lincoln Became President

The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 was the most consequential choice ever made by the American people, precipitating the bloodiest war in our nation’s history. Yet six months beforehand few Americans had ever heard of him. In this program, local historian Lew Miller will discuss the sudden rise of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency. How did this unknown former congressman pull off such a great upset? What events led southerners to the brink of secession? Lincoln was a brilliant politician but his rise to the presidency could not have happened without both mistakes by his rivals for the Republican nomination and circumstances beyond his control. This program is part of the American History Series presented by the Milford Museum. The series is offered through a generous grant from The Delaware Heritage Commission.