Historical1860
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States following the election of Abraham Lincoln. The state's declaration of secession cited the federal government's failure to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and threats to the institution of slavery.
Why It Matters
South Carolina's secession triggered the constitutional crisis that led to the Civil War and raised fundamental questions about state sovereignty, federal authority, and the permanence of the Union.