Question

question 21 of 25

as a result of ______, many southern states decided to secede from the union.

a. abraham lincolns election
b. the compromise of 1850
c. reconstruction
d. the missouri compromise

Explanation:

Analyze the historical cause of Southern secession

The question asks for the immediate catalyst that caused many Southern states to secede from the Union.

Evaluate the options

• A. Abraham Lincoln's election: The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 led directly to the secession of South Carolina in December 1860, followed quickly by six other Deep South states before his inauguration.
• B. the Compromise of 1850: This was a package of five bills passed in September 1850 that defused a political confrontation between slave and free states, delaying rather than causing secession.
• C. Reconstruction: This refers to the era after the Civil War (1865–1877) focused on reorganizing the Southern states, which occurred after secession and the war had already ended.
• D. the Missouri Compromise: This 1820 legislation regulated slavery in the western territories for decades and did not directly trigger the secession crisis of 1860–1861.

Determine the correct choice

The direct trigger for Southern secession was the election of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

Answer:

• A. Abraham Lincoln's election (Correct answer)
• B. the Compromise of 1850
• C. Reconstruction
• D. the Missouri Compromise