What event finally led the southern states to secede?

Answer 1

The event that ultimately led the southern states to secede was the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States in 1860. The southern states, many of which were dependent on the institution of slavery, perceived Lincoln's election as a threat to their way of life and their ability to maintain and expand slavery. They believed that his anti-slavery stance and his Republican Party's platform would lead to the eventual abolition of slavery. As a result, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860, followed by six other states, including Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, in early 1861. These states formed the Confederate States of America, leading to the outbreak of the American Civil War.