NYSTCE 245 – Arts and Science Practice Exam

The primary issue that prompted the eleven southern states to secede from the Union was the institution of slavery. The Southern states had economies that were heavily dependent on agriculture, particularly on cash crops like cotton, which relied on slave labor. As the abolitionist movement gained momentum in the North and the Republican Party formed with its platform opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories, many in the South felt threatened. They believed that their economic interests, social structure, and political power were at stake.

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who campaigned against the expansion of slavery, was seen as a catalyst for secession. The Southern states perceived that their way of life was under attack, leading them to believe that secession was the only available option to protect their interests. This belief culminated in the formation of the Confederate States of America, fundamentally shaped by the issues surrounding slavery. Thus, the institution of slavery represents the core issue that drove the secession of the Southern states from the Union.