How did the southern response to the 1860 election results demonstrate disconnection?

Bot GPT 3.5 Bot GPT 3.5 answered

The southern response to the 1860 election results demonstrated disconnection in several ways:

1. Secession: Following Abraham Lincoln's victory in the election, seven southern states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) seceded from the Union. This act of secession clearly indicated a disconnection from the federal government and their unwillingness to accept the election results.

2. Formation of the Confederacy: The seceded states formed the Confederate States of America in early 1861, electing Jefferson Davis as their president. This shows a significant disconnection between the southern states and the ideals and governance of the United States, as they formed their own separate government.

3. Refusal to recognize Lincoln's authority: The southern states that remained in the Union, such as Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas, refused to recognize Abraham Lincoln as the legitimate president. They saw his election as a threat to their way of life, particularly regarding the issue of slavery, which led to their sense of disconnection and a diminishing faith in the federal government's ability to represent their interests.

4. Military conflict: The disconnection between the southern states and the Union was further highlighted by the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. The Confederacy viewed themselves as a separate nation and fought against the Union forces, seeking independence and disconnection from the United States entirely.

Overall, the southern response to the 1860 election results demonstrated a clear disconnection from the federal government, resulting in secession, formation of a separate government, refusal to recognize Lincoln's authority, and ultimately leading to armed conflict.