 Kukunda ruzhinji rwevanhu kekutanga, maRepublicans akabatsirwa nezvinhu zvakawanda kusanganisira kuparara kweNativist American Party, kurwisana kwechikamu muDemocratic Party, kusagutsikana kwevhoti yekuchamhembe nechisarudzo chakashata chaMarch 1857 cheDred Scott Supreme Court, kuratidzwa kwezvematongerwo enyika kwevaDemocrats kumhirizhonga muKansaspakati pemiedzo inodzokororwa yokuisa uranda mukupesana nechishuvo chakananga choruzhinji rwavagari vayo, uye kuderera kwakasimba mukufarirwa kwaPurezidhendi Buchanan nemhaka yokusava nesimba kwake kunorangarirwa. MuPennsylvania, nyika yokumusha kwake, vaRepublican vakawana zvikomborero zvikuru. 