Final answer:
The outcome of the Election of 1860 was the election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States. Before Lincoln's inauguration, several Southern states had already seceded from the Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Outcome of the Election of 1860
The outcome of the Election of 1860 was the election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln, a Republican, won the election against three other candidates. His victory led to a series of events that ultimately resulted in the secession of Southern states and the start of the American Civil War.
Events Before the Inauguration
Before Lincoln's inauguration, several Southern states, including South Carolina, had already seceded from the Union in response to his election. As a result, tensions were high and the country was on the brink of disunion. Efforts to reach a compromise and avoid conflict ultimately failed, and the Confederate States of America was formed in February 1861, just before Lincoln took office.
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