Question

What is the connection among sectionalism, slavery, and states’ rights as causes of the Civil War?
How did the Southern response to the 1860 election results demonstrate this connection? Your answer should be only 1-3 sentences.

Answer 1

Sectionalism, slavery, and states' rights were interconnected causes of the Civil War, as the Southern states prioritized their economic reliance on slavery and their belief in states' rights to govern themselves without federal interference. The 1860 election, which resulted in Abraham Lincoln's victory, was perceived by the South as a direct threat to slavery and their way of life, prompting Southern states to secede and assert their rights against what they viewed as Northern encroachment. This reaction exemplifies how these factors collectively fueled the tensions leading to the Civil War.