Why did white southerners view Lincolns view election as president?

White Southerners viewed Abraham Lincoln's election as president in 1860 with deep concern and hostility because they believed he would threaten the institution of slavery, which was integral to their economy and way of life. Lincoln's anti-slavery stance and his affiliation with the Republican Party, which sought to limit the expansion of slavery into new territories, heightened fears of federal intervention in state affairs. Many Southerners interpreted his election as a direct challenge to their rights and autonomy, leading to increased tensions that ultimately contributed to the secession of Southern states from the Union.