which best explains why south carolina seceded from the union
1 answer
South Carolina seceded from the Union primarily due to the issue of slavery. The state had a robust slave-based agricultural economy and relied heavily on enslaved labor. With the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who had expressed anti-slavery sentiments, South Carolina feared that the federal government would restrict or abolish slavery, thus undermining their economic system. They believed that this threatened their social and economic interests, as well as their individual states' rights. Therefore, South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860, becoming the first state to do so, leading to the eventual formation of the Confederate States of America.