Final answer:
The southern states wanted to secede from the Union during the Civil War due to the issue of slavery and states' rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The southern states wanted to secede from the Union during the American Civil War mainly because of the issue of slavery and states' rights. The southern states wanted to secede from the Union during the Civil War due to the issue of slavery and states' rights. The South believed that they had the legal right to secede and protect their way of life, including their right to own slaves and take them anywhere in the country.
They also used the idea of white supremacy to encourage support for secession. The seceding states believed that Lincoln's election as president would lead to the dismantling of the institution of slavery, which they saw as vital to their economy and social structure.