To answer your question about the direct consequences of the presidential election of 1860, we can analyze the context of that election and its aftermath.
The 1860 election was particularly significant because it highlighted the deep divisions within the United States over issues of slavery and state rights. Abraham Lincoln, representing the Republican Party, won the presidency without any electoral votes from the Southern states. This resulted in several direct consequences:
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Secession of Southern States: Following Lincoln's election, several Southern states seceded from the Union, beginning with South Carolina in December 1860. They formed the Confederate States of America, ultimately leading to the Civil War.
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Increased Tensions Between North and South: The election deepened the sectional divide, as it underscored the political power imbalance and alienation felt by Southern states, which believed they had lost representation in the federal government.
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Strengthening of the Republican Party: Lincoln's victory solidified the Republican Party as a major political force focused on limiting the expansion of slavery, which would provoke further reactions from the South.
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Civil War: Ultimately, the election set the stage for the Civil War, which began in April 1861 after tensions escalated over issues directly stemming from the election results and the subsequent actions of the seceded states.
Based on these points, the direct consequence of the presidential election of 1860 was the secession of Southern states from the Union and the onset of the Civil War, stemming from the election's outcome and the heightened tensions regarding slavery and states' rights.
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