Final answer:
The remaining slave states chose to secede due to a fusion of economic, political, and social reasons. Slavery represented an economic advantage they wanted to protect, but the election of Abraham Lincoln who was seen as a threat to slavery, and fears of federal power abolishing slavery, also played significant roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The remaining slave states voted to secede largely due to a mix of economic, political, and social factors. As crucial to the Southern economy, the institution of slavery provided economically beneficial labor for crops such as rice, cotton, and tobacco. Secession was seen as a way to protect this institution and the economic advantages it generated.
However, pro-Union sentiments were predominant in certain states and areas where the enslaved population was small such as parts of Virginia and Tennessee. Nevertheless, the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who was perceived to be a threat to slavery and thus, southern economic and social structures, inspired secessionists in the South to withdraw their states from the Union.
Furthermore, the issue of federal power also played a significant role. Resentment of the tariff, which displayed the use of federal power, raised fears among southerners that the federal government could potentially abolish slavery. This led wealthy minorities in the South who were slaveholders to resist the national government since it acted contrary to their interests.
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