Secession: The South Leaves the Union

Secession refers to the act of a state withdrawing from the Union, and it became a significant issue following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Southern states, fearing that their rights and the institution of slavery were at risk, began to secede one by one, starting with South Carolina in December 1860.

This movement led to the formation of the Confederate States of America and set the stage for the Civil War. Secession illustrated the deep divisions and conflicts regarding states' rights and federal authority in the United States.