Final answer:
Southerners saw advantages in secession related to protecting states' rights and preserving their way of life. They compared themselves to the founding fathers who fought for independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advantages that southerners saw in secession were primarily related to the protection of states' rights and the preservation of their way of life. They believed that seceding from the Union would allow them to maintain control over their own institutions, including slavery, and avoid interference from the federal government. Southerners compared themselves to the founding fathers who fought for independence during the American Revolution, viewing their secession as a similar struggle for liberty and self-determination.