Final answer:
Sectionalism in the United States heavily influenced the election of 1860, which resulted in the secession of several Southern states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The election of 1860 was heavily impacted by sectionalism, which was the division of the United States into two distinct regions with different economic, social, and political interests. During this time, the Northern states were largely industrialized and held anti-slavery sentiments, while the Southern states were primarily agrarian and relied heavily on slavery.
This division resulted in the split of the Democratic Party into three factions and the rise of the Republican Party, which nominated Abraham Lincoln. Support for Lincoln was mainly from the Northern states, while the Southern states favored candidates who would protect their interests, such as John C. Breckinridge.
As a result of this deep sectional divide, Lincoln won the election without a single southern electoral vote, which further escalated tensions between the North and South and led to the secession of South Carolina and six other Southern states from the Union.