Question

What event caused the South to secede and start the Civil War?

Answer 1

The event that ultimately led to the secession of the South and the start of the Civil War was the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Lincoln's victory was seen as a threat to the institution of slavery, which was deeply entrenched in the Southern states. In response to Lincoln's election, several Southern states, including South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The tensions between the North and South escalated, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.