What was the major political difference that caused the Southern states to break away from the Union in 1860?

The major political difference that prompted the Southern states to secede from the Union in 1860 revolved around the issue of representation and power in the federal government, particularly in relation to the status of slavery. The election of 1860, which escalated tensions, featured Abraham Lincoln as the Republican candidate, who opposed the spread of slavery into new territories and states. The fact that the South did not gain a majority of the total vote in that election infused a feeling of political disenfranchisement among Southern voters. Lincoln won the presidency without winning a single electoral vote from the Southern states, which heightened concerns over the future of slavery and Southern rights.

This context highlights the Southern states' belief that their political interests, particularly regarding slavery, would not be adequately represented in a nation led by a president unaligned with their values. Therefore, their apprehension about losing control over their social and economic systems, which heavily relied on slavery, pushed them toward secession as they sought to preserve their way of life.

The other options failed to capture the nexus of political discontent related to representation and the electoral process that directly influenced the Southern states' decision to break away. They did not adequately reflect the primary concern regarding the potential imbalance in favor of anti-sl