3. Lincoln had a huge electoral vote lead, but not nearly as much of a lead in the popular votes. What does this tell you about the states he won? 4. Which candidate won the most electoral votes in the South? How do you explain this?

3) Southern states seceded following Lincoln's victory, believing that his election demonstrated that they had no authority in the United States and that the North would soon destroy their way of life, which revolved around slavery.

4) John C. Breckinridge.  The electoral split between Northern and Southern Democrats exemplified the severe sectional divide, particularly over slavery, and in the months following Lincoln's election (and before his inauguration in March 1861) seven Southern states seceded, led by South Carolina on December 20, 1860, launching the American Civil War (1861–65).

the influence of charles louis de secondant , baton montesquieu.