What was the political affiliation of Abraham Lincoln when he was elected in 1860?

Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 as a member of the Republican Party. This party was relatively new at the time and had formed in the 1850s primarily in opposition to the expansion of slavery into the territories of the United States. Lincoln's election signified a pivotal moment in American history, as it represented the growing strength of the Republican Party, which advocated for free soil and the maintenance of the Union.

The Republican platform appealed to a broad coalition of former Whigs, Free Soilers, and anti-slavery Democrats, positioning Lincoln as a strong candidate against slavery's spread. His presidency would later be marked by his efforts to preserve the Union during the Civil War and to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which began the process of freedom for slaves in the Confederate states.

In contrast, the other political affiliations listed do not apply to Lincoln during this period. The Democratic Party was divided at the time, with Northern Democrats supporting Stephen Douglas and Southern Democrats backing John C. Breckinridge. The Conservative Whigs were a faction that largely dissolved by the time Lincoln ran for president, and the Liberty Party was a minor party that focused primarily on abolition but did not have the significant political weight that the Republican Party gained during the election