Final answer:
The presidential election of 1860 saw Lincoln's victory without any southern electoral votes, reflecting national sectionalism and leading to the start of the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes the presidential election of 1860 is: Lincoln was elected without a single southern vote in the Electoral College, an indication of extreme national sectionalism. This is because Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, won the presidency without receiving a single electoral vote from any of the southern states. His victory highlighted the deep divide between the northern and southern states, which ultimately led to the secession of several southern states and the start of the Civil War.
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