AP U.S. History Flashcards: Election of 1860 and Secession
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What major conflict was precipitated by the secession of slave states?
The secession of slave states following the 1860 election precipitated the Civil War.
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What major conflict was precipitated by the secession of slave states?
The secession of slave states following the 1860 election precipitated the Civil War.
On what political platform did Abraham Lincoln win the 1860 presidential election?
Abraham Lincoln won the election on the Republicans' free-soil platform.
How did the Southern states' electoral votes contribute to Lincoln's victory in 1860?
Lincoln won the presidency in 1860 without receiving any Southern electoral votes, highlighting a deep sectional divide.
Explain the causal link between the 1860 election and the Civil War.
Lincoln's victory on a free-soil platform prompted the secession of most slave states, which in turn precipitated the Civil War.
What group of states was most impacted by Lincoln's 1860 victory, leading them to leave the Union?
Most slave states were the group most impacted, leading them to secede from the Union.
What action did most slave states take in direct response to the 1860 election results?
In response to Lincoln's victory, most slave states chose to secede from the Union.
Secession
Secession was the action taken by most slave states to withdraw from the Union following Abraham Lincoln's 1860 election victory.
Identify the winner of the 1860 presidential election.
Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860.
What was the most significant, immediate effect of Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860?
Lincoln's election led most slave states to secede from the Union, which precipitated the Civil War.
If a political party won the presidency without any electoral votes from an entire region, what might this indicate about the state of the Union?
This indicates a severe sectional division, similar to how Lincoln's 1860 victory without Southern votes led to secession.