Final answer:
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 led to the secession of slave states due to fears of restrictions on slavery's expansion, which threatened their economic and social interests. The victory of the Republican Party, which opposed the spread of slavery, highlighted a growing regional divide and resulted in the start of the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Election of Abraham Lincoln and Secession
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was a catalyst for secession by slave states. These states feared that Lincoln and the Republican Party would limit the expansion of slavery, which was pivotal to their economic and social structure. The Republican Party's opposition to the extension of slavery into new territories and southern leaders' concerns about the potential use of violent abolitionist tactics resulted in eleven southern states leaving the Union to form the Confederate States of America, prioritizing the maintenance and expansion of slavery. Following the secession, the United States plunged into a Civil War, which ultimately led to the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery.
Several factors contributed to the secession including the fear of losing political power, the potential impact on southern economic interests, and the divisive influence of events like the Dred Scott decision and John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. Lincoln's victory, achieved without support from southern states, underscored the regional divide and led to South Carolina's secession in December 1860, quickly followed by other southern states. The promises of the Crittenden Compromise failed to hold appeal for the Republicans, leading the South to continue with its secession plans.