What was John Breckenridge's stance during the election of 1860?

John Breckenridge was a prominent figure in the 1860 election, running as the candidate for the Southern Democratic Party. His stance on slavery was unequivocally pro-slavery; he advocated for its expansion into all territories of the United States, with no limitations whatsoever. This position was reflective of the interests and views of many Southern Democrats of that time, who believed that the institution of slavery should not be restricted by federal laws or policy.

Breckenridge's campaign was centered around the idea that the federal government should protect slaveholders' rights to hold slaves not only in the Southern states but also in the newly acquired territories. This stance was a direct challenge to the more moderate approaches of other candidates, who sought to address the issue of slavery with varying degrees of restriction or compromise.

The election itself was highly contentious, with slavery as one of the central issues leading to divisions that contributed to the Civil War. Breckenridge's strong pro-slavery position resonated with many in the South, but it also solidified the divisions between Northern and Southern interests regarding the future of slavery in America.