The election of 1860 was a crossroad in American history. Faced with four major candidates, voters in the North and South went to the polls not knowing that the result of the election would culminate in the bloodiest conflict the US had ever seen. Despite its obvious importance, surprisingly few studies have focused exclusively on this electoral contest itself. Here seven historians offer insightful essays that challenge the traditional view of the election, present fresh interpretations, and approach the contest from new angles.