Final answer:
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the event that preceded South Carolina's secession from the Union. Perceiving Lincoln as a threat, South Carolina was the first state to secede, followed by other states in the Deep South.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that preceded South Carolina's secession from the Union was the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860. Lincoln's election resulted in heightened tensions between the pro-slavery South and the anti-slavery North. South Carolina, among other states in the deep south, saw Lincoln's election as a direct threat to the institution of slavery and their lifestyle.
Subsequent to the election, seven Deep South states, including South Carolina, seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America (CSA) dedicated to maintaining racial slavery and white supremacy. This secession marked a pivotal moment in history, leading the nation into the Civil War, which began officially with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in 1861.
Important to note, South Carolina was the first state to secede, setting a precedent for other Southern states. Initially, other states like Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas decided to secede following South Carolina's bold step, setting in motion a series of events that would ultimately lead to the Civil War. These decisions were often after extremely divided conventions and popular votes, indicating a lack of unanimity and conflict within the South itself.
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