Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin Campaign Button, 1860

Supporters used this presidential campaign button for the 1860 Republican Party candidates, Abraham Lincoln and his running mate, Hannibal Hamlin. The tintype of Lincoln is a copy of an 1858 ambrotype portrait probably taken by Roderick M. Cole, of Peoria, Illinois. The tintype on the other side of the button shows Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's running mate. This use of photography in political campaigns was still unusual at the time--most campaign buttons did not include photographic images of the candidates.

Lincoln was one of several presidential candidates in 1860, a time when Americans were deeply divided over the issues of states' rights and slavery. The newly emerging Republican Party nominated Abraham Lincoln as their presidential candidate. At the Democratic convention, the party could not agree. Northerners turned to Stephen Douglas of Illinois, while southerners selected John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky. There was also a third party choice of John Bell of Tennessee. Throughout most of the South, Lincoln's name was not even on the ballot! With the vote split among so many candidates, Abraham Lincoln carried all of the eighteen free states to win the 1860 presidential election.