5. The Election of 1860 and Secession
Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, without any Southern electoral support, was perceived by Southern states as a direct threat to the institution of slavery and their way of life. This perception led to the secession of seven Southern states—South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas—before Lincoln’s inauguration in March 1861. These states formed the Confederate States of America, setting the stage for the Civil War (history.com).
