Lead: One hundred and fifty years ago the Republic was facing its greatest crisis. This continuing series examines the American Civil War. It is A House Divided. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: One of the defining events leading up to the Civil War was the Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston, a major port city on the Atlantic coast, had a population of over 40,000 people, one of the largest southern cities. With deep divisions in the party, particularly over the issue of slavery, front runner Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas, regarded as moderate on the issue of slavery, knew he had to somehow placate the southern faction, who were strongly insisting on a pro-slavery plank in the party platform. Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [54.96 KB] Share
