Fiona Spring and Jacob Van Horn, Election of Abraham Lincoln, Karen's Office.

This is a political cartoon made when Abraham Lincoln was running for president. It shows him riding on a rail carried by Horace Greeley, the editor of the New York Tribune and a racial stereotype of an African-American man. Horace Greeley is saying "We can prove that you have split rails, & that will ensure your election to the presidency, Lincoln is saying "It is true that I have split rails, but I begin to feel as if this rail would split me. It's the hardest stick I ever straddled," and the African-American man is saying "Dis (N-word) strong and willin', but it's awful hard work to carry Old Massa Abe on nothing but dis 'ere rail!" This relates to the Civil War, because it shows how and why lots of people were against Lincoln, and how lots of people were very racist, especially in the South. 

This is a poster from Abraham Lincoln's campaign in 1860.  It shows a picture of Lincoln, with "Abraham Lincoln, Republican candidate for President of the United States. It also shows multiple flags, and eagle, and a scroll with "The Union" written on it. It is important because it shows how committed Lincoln was to preserving the Union and keeping the country together.