The combination of these factors led the South to secede from the Union, and thus began the American Civil War.

While he believed the South had seceded to protect slavery, he had felt it was his patriotic duty to Virginia.

As a result, Lincoln loses the election, and his successor signs a peace treaty allowing the South to secede.

As states in the lower South seceded from the Union, the pressure mounted upon Virginia to do likewise.

- Why did the South secede from the United States?

To preserve the Union, Lincoln would greatly strengthen the power of the executive office by leading the North into battle once the South had seceded.

So why did the South secede?

He has said that the South seceded from the Union because of states' rights, not slavery.

When the South seceded, Lee reluctantly resigned from the army, hoping to avoid participation in the war he deplored.

When the South seceded, it named Richmond, Virginia as the capital of the Confederate States.