The platform of the Whigs and new Republicans was based largely on the Hamiltonian platform of the Federalist Party which also collapsed around 1816 after four consecutive defeats by re-elected presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
The platform included a strong, federal government to be superior over the states, monopolistic central banking and protectionist import tariffs that could be used to fund infrastructure development. The tariffs could be established selectively to protect organizations and companies controlled by wealthy party supporters.
The unpopular planks caused the demise of Whig and Federalist parties. Although those parties were never able to control Congress or re-elect a president, their platform planks were implemented by force under Lincoln and the new Republican Party that took office on March 4, 1861.
VIII. THE MYTH ABOUT THE START OF WAR
Most accounts contend that the war started when South Carolina fired upon Fort Sumpter on April 12, 1861 even though the Union troops were warned in advance and there were no casualties.
South Carolina had peacefully succeeded on December 20, 1860 and immediately sent commissioners to Washington to negotiate terms for returning the then unmanned, Fort Sumpter. The terms would have included compensation for fortification improvements made by the federal government. Those improvements were made to the original South Carolina property that was ceded to the Union in 1828 for the purpose of defending the state. Then president, James Buchanan, did not officially receive the commissioners but Abraham Lincoln acknowledged the negotiations in an overstated comment during his second inaugural address. He said, regarding Washington, that: "Urgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation"
For those who have never been there, Fort Sumpter is on an island in the middle of the inner harbor of Charleston. Political historians consistently ignore that once South Carolina succeeded; Fort Sumpter had no value to the Union but was critical to South Carolina in defending the city.
On December 27, 1860, Union Colonel Robert Anderson secretly moved his troops into Fort Sumter from Fort Moultrie. He feared that he could not defend Fort Moultrie against any potential attack as easily he could defend Fort Sumpter. Colonel Anderson, his garrison in South Carolina and their families were friends with, respected by, and partially supplied by families of the people of Charleston. Confederate General, P.G.T. Beauregard was the former student and teaching assistant of Colonel Anderson.
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