Question

which event directly triggered South Carolina's decision to secede?

Answer 1

The event that directly triggered South Carolina's decision to secede from the Union was the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States in November 1860. Lincoln was seen by many in the southern states as a threat to the institution of slavery and to their way of life. Following his election, South Carolina's leaders convened a special convention and on December 20, 1860, they voted to secede from the Union, becoming the first state to do so. This action set the stage for the outbreak of the American Civil War.