Constitutional Union Party

E292298

The Constitutional Union Party was a short-lived U.S. political party formed in 1860 that sought to preserve the Union and avoid secession by downplaying the slavery issue and emphasizing loyalty to the Constitution.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (43)

Predicate Object
instanceOf United States political party
defunct political party
political party
activePeriod 1860 United States presidential election
country United States of America
surface form: United States
declineCause outbreak of the American Civil War
dissolved 1860s
downplayedIssue slavery
electoralVotesReceived 39
formedFrom Know Nothings
Southern moderates
former Whigs
founded 1860
goal avoid secession
preserve the Union
historicalContext pre–American Civil War period
ideology constitutionalism
unionism
keyIssue loyalty to the U.S. Constitution
opposition to secession
preservation of the Union
legacy example of centrist unionist politics before the Civil War
mottoOrSlogan The Constitution, the Union, and the Enforcement of the Laws
nominatedForPresident John Bell
nominatedForVicePresident Edward Everett
notableLeader Edward Everett
John Bell
opposedTo Republican Party
Southern Democratic secessionists
popularVoteShare about 12.6 percent
positionOnSlavery downplayed slavery issue
presidentialCandidate John Bell
presidentialElection 1860 United States presidential election
soughtSupportFrom former Whigs
moderate voters
strongestSupportRegion Upper South
strongestSupportState Kentucky
Tennessee
Virginia
vicePresidentialCandidate Edward Everett
wonElectoralVotesFrom Kentucky
Tennessee
Virginia

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Alexander H. Stephens memberOfPoliticalParty Constitutional Union Party
John Bell memberOfPoliticalParty Constitutional Union Party
John Bell nominatedBy Constitutional Union Party
1860 United States presidential election partyOfJohnBell Constitutional Union Party
this entity surface form: Constitutional Union Party (United States)
Confederate Brigadier General Robert Toombs memberOfPoliticalParty Constitutional Union Party
subject surface form: Robert Toombs