which best explains why south carolina seceded from the union?

Answer 1

South Carolina seceded from the Union primarily due to the issue of states' rights and the institution of slavery. The state's economy was heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly cotton plantation, which required a significant number of enslaved workers. With the growing abolitionist sentiment in the North and the election of President Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery, South Carolina feared that its slaveholding system would be threatened. Hence, they believed that secession from the Union was necessary to protect their economic and social interests, preserve their way of life, and maintain control over their own affairs. Furthermore, South Carolina believed strongly in the concept of states' rights, asserting that individual states should hold considerable power over the federal government.